Nepal plane was on its way for maintenance with mechanics on board when it crashed as boy, 4, & parents among 18 killed

A PLANE that crashed and burst into flames after taking off from Kathmandu - killing 18 people - was on its way for maintenance, it's been revealed.

Mechanics and airline staff were aboard the Saurya Airlines flight out of the Nepali capital, which was bound for Pokhara for works.

The Bombardier CRJ plane nosedived moments later, smashing into the ground with a four-year-old boy and his parents among those killed.

The pilot was the only one on board to survive and was rushed to hospital - miraculously suffering only injuries to his eyes with his condition non-life threatening.

Now airport officials speaking anonymously have said most of the passengers were mechanics and airline workers, Associated Press reported.

Tragically, Saurya Airlines technician Manuraj Sharma and wife Prija Khatiwada died alongside their four-year-old son Adhiraj Sharma.

Prija worked as an assistant computer operator at the Minister of Energy, Water, Resources and Irrigation, according to reports.

The flight took off from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 11:11am, but it when turned right it began to plunge.

Horrifying footage captured the crash, showing the jet spiralling back down to earth.

It slams into the ground and a cloud of dark smoke erupts as terrified onlookers watch on helplessly.

A witness told AP of the horror scene: "I came out and saw a plane had crashed and there was huge smoke and fire coming out.

"There was chaos and confusion.

"It was just horrible and there was no way that anyone could just go near the plane and help out when there was so much fire and even explosions."

The bodies were sent for autopsy at Kathmandu's TU Teaching Hospital, where horrified family members gathered waiting for their relatives' bodies to be released.

Heartbreaking pictures showed relatives in despair and trying to console one another as they broke down in tears.

One of those was the uncle of co-pilot Sasant Katuwal, who perished in the freak incident.

He said his nephew was destined to be a great pilot, with the family now left reeling after losing their only child.

TIA airport was closed for hours with investigators combing over the crash.

All of the passengers killed were Nepali except for a Yemeni national.

According Reuters, Saurya Airlines marketing boss Mukesh Khanal said: "The plane was scheduled to undergo maintenance for a month beginning Thursday... It is unclear why it crashed."

It's not the first story of aviation horror out of Nepal, where unpredictable flying conditions can make for tricky take-off and landing.

In January 2023, 72 died in a Yeti Airlines disaster - it was later revealed pilots accidentally cut power.

In 1992, a devastating crash killed 167 people aboard a Pakistan International Airlines plane.

The jet crashed when it was approaching Kathmandu Airport.