Kathmandu - Eighteen people were killed in a plane crash in north-eastern Nepal, aviation officials said Wednesday.

The Yeti Airlines plane crashed and killed all but the pilot onboard as it attempted to land at Lukla Airport, about 150 kilometres north-east of Kathmandu, officials said.

The victims included 12 Germans, two Swiss and four Nepalese, reports quoted police as saying.

The plane's captain, who was the only survivor, was transferred to a hospital in Kathmandu, reports said.

No other details were immediately available.

The plane had taken off from Kathmandu early Wednesday for a 30-minute flight to Lukla.

Police said the Canadian-built Twin Otter aircraft caught on fire soon after the crash leaving many passengers trapped inside the plane.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but the weather at the time of the crash was clear and visibility excellent, reports said.

The airport, located 2,743 metres above sea-level, is considered one of the world's most dangerous places to land with its steeply-inclined runway.

The crash is the worst reported in Nepal since March when a UN- helicopter crashed and killed 10 people in stormy weather in the Ramechhap district, east of Kathmandu. (dpa)