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Katmandu, July 25: A Saurya Airlines Bombardier CRJ 200 aircraft met a tragic accident on July 24 shortly after airborne from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu. The flight was en route to Pokhara for a scheduled C-Check. 

The aircraft veered off to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway shortly after takeoff. Although it was the monsoon season, there was no rain at the time, but visibility was low. Emergency services managed to control the resulting fire, and the airport was temporarily closed as a result. Currently, the video about the crash is spreading through the internet. The crash was captured from three angles. In reference to that, experts around the globe have been discussing the cause of the crash through different forums.

The main issue being raised was whether the pilots set the flaps for takeoff or not! “If flaps were not positioned for take-off, that can be one troubling factor and could be a clue. But it somehow doesn’t look like the flaps were extended for take-off. It could have been a primary flight control failure, but pilots almost managed to level the wings”, said one of the members.

The picture isn’t great but could be loss of engine on takeoff, and a bank angle of almost 90 deg almost immediately after takeoff suggests a powered stall or a control problem. You pretty much won’t get airborne with no flaps. It would have failed to achieve enough lift after rotation and would start to sink wings-level attitude. The CRJ-200 doesn’t have leading edge slats and the normal take-off flap is 8 deg, so it won’t show too easily, said the other member in response to that.

This was probably an engine failure with the rudder not centred causing a high roll rate or an asymmetric flight control runaway. Another possible scenario is a partial or total thrust reverser being deployed on the second engine. There are a couple of cases (different models of aircraft) in which aircraft behaved in the exact same way after rotation. But it does look like a low-altitude stall or possibly an uncommand roll. They were going for maintenance, and they were professionals. It could have primary flight control problems, or perhaps they have jammed ailerons or elevators, thrust differential issues, or excess asymmetric thrust.

However, there’s no room for speculation in the aviation world, let the due investigation procedures take place and wait for the conclusion. The speculation does nothing, just clouds the water.

Unfortunately, the crash resulted in the deaths of 18 out of the 19 people on board, with the pilot, Commander Manish Ratna Shakya, being the sole survivor. In the aftermath, the families of the deceased are entitled to an insurance payout of $20,000 per person, with the aircraft itself being insured for Rs 300 million through Prabhu Insurance.

People’s News Monitoring Service.