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).

Issuing a statement on Wednesday, CAAN said that the Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft with call sign 9N-AME veered off the runway shortly after takeoff and crashed to the east side of the runway.

The accident happened soon after takeoff at 11.11 am. The plane had caught fire after the accident. A team of security officials and fire fighters carried out the rescue operation.

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 pilot has injuries to his eyes but his life is not in any danger,” the Associated Press reported quoting a doctor at Kathmandu Medical College.

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

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 was briefly halted as a result of the accident.

According to list of casualties published by CAAN, the victims are:

Co-Pilot Sushant Katuwal

Priza Khatiwada

Amit Man Maharjan

Sagar Acharya

Dilip Verma

Manu Raj Sharma

Ashwin Niraula

Sudip Lal Joshi

Sarbesh Marasini

Shyam Bindukar

Nava Raj Ale

Raja Ram Acharya

Uddhab Puri

Yagya Prasad Poudyal

Santosh Mahato

Punya Ratna Saahi

 Adhiraj Sharma (child)

Aref Reda (Yemeni citizen)