At least 18 people dead in plane crash in Nepal

At least 18 people died when a small plane crashed and caught fire during takeoff from Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, on Wednesday, according to news reports citing local officials.

Officials confirmed to media outlets that the plane, which had two crew members and 17 technicians on board, was heading to Pokhara city to repair another aircraft.

TV footage showed firefighters attempting to extinguish the blaze with thick black smoke billowing into the sky. The footage also showed the plane flying slightly above the runway before tilting and crashing.

Reports indicate that Nepal has a poor air safety record, with nearly 350 fatalities in plane or helicopter crashes in the Himalayan country since 2000.

The deadliest crash occurred in 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus crashed into a hillside while approaching Kathmandu, killing 167 people.

Most recently, at least 72 people died in a Yeti Airlines crash in January 2023, which was later attributed to the pilots mistakenly cutting off power.