KATHMANDU: Eighteen individuals have lost their lives after a Saurya Airlines plane crashed at the Tribhuvan International Airport during takeoff on Wednesday.

The plane, with 19 onboard including the crew members, was headed towards Pokhara, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). The accident happened at around 11 am. One of the pilots survived the crash.

The pilot Manish Ratna Shakya, who sustained injuries in the accident, is undergoing treatment at the Kathmandu Medical College, said CAAN.

The plane had caught fire after the accident. A team of security officials and fire fighters carried out the rescue operation.

According to Nepal Police, most of the passengers were employees at Saurya Airlines and headed to Pokhara for carrying out maintenance works.

The plane crashed east of runway 20 while taking off from Runway 02.

According to SSP Dambar BK, the security officer at the airport, the bodies of 18 victims have been retrieved and are being prepared for transfer to the Teaching Hospital at Maharajgunj. Domestic flights at TIA have been disrupted as a result of the accident.