18 people perish in plane crash in Nepal

NEW DELHI, July 24 (KUNA) -- Nepalese authorities said that 18 people were killed after an aircraft crashed after taking off from an airport in the capital city of Kathmandu on Wednesday. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal confirmed the death of 18 passengers aboard the Saurya Airlines aircraft as it crashed at the Tribhuvan International Airport, according to Kathmandu Post. The flight heading to Pokhara took off from Kathmandu carrying 19 people, including two crew members and crashed at 11:11 a.m. (local time). The aircraft skidded from runway and plunged into a gorge near the airport. The captain of the aircraft was rescued and has been admitted to local Hospital. Most of the people on board the aircraft were airline staff travelling to Pokhara for maintenance. (end) atk.gb