UPDATE - 18 dead bodies recovered after plane crash in Nepal

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - 18 bodies of passengers and crew have been recovered after a plane crashed on Wednesday in Nepal.

Captain MR Shakya of the Saurya Airlines airplane was rescued and is under treatment at a hospital.

The aircraft “crashed during takeoff” at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in the capital Kathmandu, the daily Kathmandu Post reported.

Premnath Thakur, TIA spokesman, said the incident happened at around 11 a.m. (0515GMT).

Among the 19 people were crew members as well and the plane was en route to the city of Pokhara in central Nepal.

The Nepalese army led the rescue operations that are underway at the accident site.