KATHMANDU, Nepal, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- A Nepalese plane with tourists aboard, flying from Kathmandu to Lukla near Mount Everest, crashed early Friday, killing all 19 aboard, Nepalnews.com reported.
The plane crashed near Bhaktapur minutes after taking off from Kathmandu, the report said.
Nepalnews said the nationalities of the tourists were not immediately known, but they were believed to be foreigners on a trekking rip. Most tourists planning a trip to Everest, the world's tallest peak, usually fly to Lukla before embarking on a two- to three-day trek to the foot of the Himalayan peak.
The plane, owned by a private airline, had a three-member crew of a pilot, co-pilot and a flight attendant, the report said. It went down about 6:20 a.m.
Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying a fire broke out immediately after the plane struck the ground. A rescue team was at the scene.
Nepalnews said there was low visibility at the site of the crash.
