Aircraft with 19 on board crashes in Nepal during takeoff, five bodies found

KATHMANDU: An aircraft carrying 19 passengers skidded off the runway and crashed during takeoff at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu Wednesday morning at 11 am. 19 people including crew and technical staff were on board the Pokhara bound Saurya Airlines flight when it caught on fire.

Plane crashes during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Updates to follow. #Kathmandu #PlaneCrash #Nepal pic.twitter.com/XFpMbQwAGR

— Sarkarihelpline.com (@SarkariHelpline) July 24, 2024

Nepalese authorities said the bodies of five have been found. Rescue operations by the police and fire brigade are progressing at the spot. The plane burst into flames. The pilot who sustained injuries has been taken to the hospital. The airport has been closed. The cause of the fire is not known.

The airport is located on top of a plateau surrounded by deep gorges and valleys on all sides.