Plane carrying 72 people crashes in Nepal

A file photo of a plane in Nepal
A Yeti Airlines plane carrying dozens of people has crashed in western Nepal. -EPA

A plane carrying 72 people has crashed in Nepal, an airport official says.

State television reports some bodies had been recovered from the crash site in the west of the small Himalayan country. 

The twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft operated by Yeti Airlines was en route from Kathmandu, capital of the small Himalayan country, said the official, who asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to media.

Local television showed thick black smoke billowing from the crash site as rescue workers and crowds of people gathered around the wreckage of the aircraft.