At least 18 people were killed Wednesday in a civilian plane crash while trying to take off from Tribhuvan International Airport in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu.

Nepalese media reported that the Suriya Airlines plane crashed in the morning, noting that firefighters and police were participating in rescue efforts.

The flight was on its way to Pokhara, which is an important tourist destination in the Himalayan country.

The air crew was among the 19 individuals who were on board the plane, and the pilot of the plane also survived the accident.

Source: Qatar News Agency