"On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, the Saurya Airlines plane ... took off from Kathmandu Airport at 11:11 local time [05:11 GMT] and headed for Pokhara. Shortly after the takeoff, the plane veered to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway. Rescue operations were launched immediately. The fire was contained, and 18 people were found dead. One seriously injured individual was rescued and taken to hospital," the aviation authority said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, media reported that a Saurya Airlines aircraft with 19 people on board, including the crew, had crashed during takeoff at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The plane carried the company's technical staff.