A plane crash during takeoff in Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu on Wednesday has killed 18 people, according to aviation officials in the country.
The Saurya Airlines flight had 19 people on board when it was headed to Pokhara, a popular mountaineering and tourist destination. It was a test flight with 17 Saurya Airlines technical staff and two crew members on board the aircraft.
Online videos showed the plane in billows of fire and smoke. A search operation is currently ongoing, and there are fears the death toll could rise further.
Spokesperson of the Nepali police, Dan Bahadur Karki, confirmed the deaths, adding medics are attending to a pilot who had injuries. Nepal has shown a poor air safety record. In January 2023, at least 72 people died in a Yeti Airlines crash that was later attributed to its pilots cutting the power in error.
The Himalayan country is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains including Everest, has a record of air accidents. Its weather can change suddenly, and airstrips are typically sited in difficult-to-reach, mountainous areas.
Aircraft with 19 seats or fewer are more likely to crash due to these challenges, according to a 2019 safety report from the Civil Aviation Authority.
According to the company’s website, Saurya Airlines operates flights to five destinations within Nepal, with a fleet of three Bombardier CRJ-200 jets.