On Wednesday, a tragic plane crash near Kathmandu, Nepal resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people. The small aircraft, which was carrying 17 technicians and 2 crew members to Pokhara for aircraft repairs, crashed and burst into flames during takeoff.

The only survivor, the captain, is currently receiving treatment in a hospital, according to Tej Bahadur Poudyal, spokesperson for Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Television footage captured the blaze, thick black smoke, and the plane's dramatic crash as it veered off the runway. Rescue workers were seen sifting through the wreckage in green fields, while local residents watched as bodies were transported by ambulance.

The aircraft involved was a Bombardier CRJ-200, operated by local Saurya Airlines, which has two of these jets, each around 20 years old. The airport was temporarily closed following the incident.

Nepal's aviation sector has faced criticism for its safety record, with nearly 350 fatalities from plane and helicopter crashes since 2000. The deadliest crash occurred in 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus crashed into a hillside near Kathmandu, killing 167 people. More recently, a Yeti Airlines crash in January 2023 resulted in 72 deaths due to pilot error.