18 killed as small plane crashes in Nepal

A small private plane crashed in the remote mountains of northeast Nepal yesterday, killing at least 18 people, mostly foreigners, airline and airport officials said.

Twelve Germans and two Australians were among the dead. The rest were Nepalis. "There were 19 people on board," said Vinay Shakya, an official of Yeti Airlines, a domestic airline.

A crew member survived and was taken to hospital in the capital Kathmandu by helicopter.