Authorities in Nepal say a plane carrying 19 people has crashed shortly after take-off at an international airport in the capital Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Officials say there were no passengers on the plane operated by Nepal's Saurya Airline. They say those who were on board included the airline's staff and engineers.
18 people have been confirmed dead.

Video footage at the site show smoke rising and plane wreckage scattered.

Authorities say the aircraft was heading to the central city of Pokhara for maintenance. They are investigating the cause of the accident.