A domestic plane carrying 19 passengers crashed in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday after skidding off the runway during takeoff. The Saurya Airlines plane was en route to the resort town of Pokhara when the accident occurred. Local media images showed smoke rising and plane wreckage scattered across a ditch. A fire that broke out after the crash has been brought under control.
At least 18 bodies have been recovered from the crash site. The pilot, the only survivor, has been rescued and is undergoing treatment at Kathmandu Medical College Hospital.
Tribhuvan International Airport, the main airport in Nepal for international and domestic flights, was closed as emergency crews worked at the scene. It was not raining at the time of the crash, but visibility was low across the capital due to the monsoon season.
The Saurya Airlines plane was a Bombardier CRJ 200, which is used for domestic flights. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
