Sita Air Flight 601, operated by Sita Air, was a regular charter flight that had taken off from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport, bound for Lukla. Lukla is renowned as the gateway for trekkers aiming to reach Mount Everest, making flights to this area critical for tourism in Nepal. Shortly after takeoff, at just 12 minutes into the flight, the pilot announced that they were returning to Kathmandu due to a technical issue. Unfortunately, the aircraft lost altitude and crashed in Madhyapur Thimi, a municipality near Kathmandu, resulting in a catastrophic fire that engulfed the wreckage, causing fatalities for all 19 individuals on board. The aircraft, a Dornier 228, had encountered engine failure. Rescue operations commenced immediately, but by the time emergency responders arrived, they could do little to salvage the situation. The impact of the crash resonated deeply within Nepal, particularly in the aviation sector, which had recently faced criticism for safety concerns. Investigations were launched to scrutinize the circumstances leading to the disaster and evaluate the regulatory measures in place governing the country's aviation industry. The crash revived discussions about the inherent risks associated with flying in and out of mountainous regions like those surrounding the Everest region. Sita Air's Flight 601 became a crucial case study in flight safety that highlighted the need for stringent safety protocols and regulations among Nepal's airlines, particularly in relation to pilot training and aircraft maintenance.