Kathmandu Plane Crash: Pilot Survives Accident, Taken to Hospital

New Delhi: The pilot of the Saurya Airlines flight that crashed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal's Kathmandu on Wednesday, survived the fatal crash that left 18 people dead.

The Pokhara-bound flight was carrying 19 people, including aircrew, at the time of the crash. The fight is said to have crashed during takeoff at the airport.

The pilot of the aircraft has been taken to Kathmandu Medical College Hospital for treatment. The pilot has been identified as Captain Manish Shakya. Captain Shakya sustained injuries to his eyes and is not in any danger, news agency AP reported.

A fire that broke out from the aircraft has been put off, a security official deployed said. Police and firefighters were carrying out rescue operations at the accident site.

It was not clear how the plane skidded off the runway. Meanwhile, the Tribhuvan International Airport that serves the capital city of Kathmandu has been closed as emergency crew worked.

Tribhuvan airport is the main airport in Nepal for international and domestic flights. Saurya Airlines operates the Bombardier CRJ 200 on domestic routes.

AP reported that visibility was low across the capital when the tragedy unfolded. Though it is monsoon rainy season in Kathmandu, but was not raining at the time of the crash.

More details are awaited.