At least 14 people were killed after a plane crashed during takeoff in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu on Wednesday, authorities said.
About 19 people were on board the Saurya Airlines flight which was heading to Pokhara, a popular tourist destination.
There were 17 Saurya Airline technicians and two crew members on board the plane, which was on a test flight.
A search operation is currently underway and it is feared that the death toll could rise further.
Videos posted online showed the plane enveloped in fire and smoke.
Firefighters and ambulances were dispatched to the scene following the incident.
Nepal police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki confirmed the deaths to BBC Nepali, adding that a pilot was being treated for his injuries.
Nepal has been criticized for its poor air safety record. In January 2023, at least 72 people were killed in a Yeti Airlines crash later attributed to its pilots mistakenly cutting the power.
Saruya Airlines operates flights to five destinations in Nepal, with a fleet of three Bombardier CRJ-200 jets, according to the company’s website.
