18 people have been killed in a plane crash in Nepal. The Bombardier CRJ 200 aircraft had problems shortly after takeoff near the capital Kathmandu and crashed. Video footage shows the plane engulfed in flames.

Local media reported that the pilot was the only survivor. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Pictures of the accident and its repercussions:

There could have been mainly technicians on board. The plane, operated by Air Surya, which operates domestic flights, was en route to Pokhara for maintenance checks. The city is about 200 kilometres west of Kathmandu.

The pictures show the crash site littered with debris. It is not known what caused the plane to get into trouble. Visibility may have been poor at the time of the accident.

Tribhuvan International Airport near Kathmandu is one of the most dangerous airports in the world, partly because it has only one runway. It is also a difficult landing zone because of the high mountains that surround it.