Eighteen people were killed when a plane crashed during take-off in Nepal's capital Kathmandu on Wednesday morning, officials said.
The Saurya Airlines flight was heading to Pokhara on a test flight with a crew of two and 17 members of the airline's technical staff on board, including a Yemeni.
The plane went off the runway of Tribhuvan International Airport at 11.11am, before catching fire and plunging into a gorge, Subhash Jha, director of the airport operations department, told The National.
Only the pilot, Capt Manish Shakya, 37, survived.
“Eighteen people, including the crew, have died in the crash but the captain has survived,” Tej Bahadur Poudyal, the airport's information officer, told The National.
“He is stable and is undergoing treatment at Kathmandu Medical College.”
A doctor told local media that the pilot had suffered eye injuries and was not in a serious condition.
Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal's main airport for international and domestic flights, was closed after the crash.
Video posted on social media showed the plane rising above the runway and then banking to its right before crashing into the ground and exploding in a ball of fire.
Emergency workers including police and firefighters tried to put out the flames as thick black smoke billowed from the crash site.
The charred remains of the plane lay scattered across green fields as the bodies of the victims were carried on stretchers to ambulances.
Mr Jha said all the bodies were recovered and sent for postmortem examination.
“The deceased are all technical staff of the airlines. They were flying to Pokhara for regular maintenance work. The families have been informed and the airline will look after the compensation and other requirements,” he said.
“The reasons for the crash are not yet known, only an investigation can tell the cause but the weather was conducive this morning,” he said.
Poor aviation safety record
Nepal has a poor aviation record and has suffered a spate of flight disasters in recent years.
There have been 27 deadly plane crashes in the country over the past three decades killing more than 600 people, according to the Aviation Safety database.
In December, the EU extended a decade-long ban on Nepali airlines in its airspace, saying they did not meet international aviation safety standards.
In January last year, 72 people were killed when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed near the city of Pokhara.
The plane plunged into a 300-metre gorge shortly before it was due to land. It was the country's deadliest plane crash since 1992, when 167 people were killed on a Pakistan Airlines flight which crash-landed in Kathmandu.
In 2018, 51 people died during a crash-landing at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Nepal, a country of about 30 million people, sits in the Himalayas and is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains including Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and Annapurna.
While it attracts vast numbers of tourists for trekking and mountaineering, its airports are small and of poor standards. There is also poor maintenance of equipment and lax enforcement of regulations.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
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- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
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- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
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EA Sports FC 25
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Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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- Is there a God?
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- Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
- Should we colonise space?
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- How do we shape the future?
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
