Nepal: Plane crashes during take-off in Kathmandu with 19 on board, CCTV footage surfaces

At least 18 people have died after a plane crashed during take-off in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday.

The plane was operating a test flight for Saurya Airlines from Kathmandu to Pokhara.

Two flight crew and 17 other staff members were on board, Nepali police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki told the AFP news agency.

"The pilot has been rescued and is being treated. It is not possible to confirm the status of others on board right now. Many have not survived," he said.

#WATCH | Plane crashes at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal's Kathmandu. Details awaited pic.twitter.com/9CudlsmFKS

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2024

Kathmandu airport general manager Jagannath Niroula told AFP further details were "still being confirmed."

Footage of the incident showed a large smoke plume with firefighters at the scene.

"Rescue work is going on," Nepal's military said.

CCTV footage of plane crash surfaced in #Kathmandu, Nepal #planecrash #Nepal #sauryaairlines pic.twitter.com/mQWos0J9iX

— Saleem Iqbal Qadri (@SaleemQadri_) July 24, 2024

Nepal's air safety record

Saurya Airlines operates the Bombardier CRJ 200 regional jet on domestic routes.

Nepal's aviation sector has a poor safety record due to insufficient training and maintenance.

The European Union has banned all Nepali airlines from its airspace.