Briton among 14 killed in Nepal plane crash

A Briton was among 14 people killed today when a small passenger plane crashed in bad weather in Nepal.

The Foreign Office confirmed that the dead Briton was Jeremy Taylor, believed to be 30 years old, and who had been living in South Africa.

An FO spokeswoman said today: "It is with great regret that we can confirm that a British national was killed in this morning's air accident in Nepal.

"The next of kin have been notified and we are providing consular assistance to them. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims of this tragic accident. We continue to be in close touch with the Nepalese authorities."

There were no survivors of the crash which happened when the German-built Dornier plane, carrying 11 passengers and three crew, went down near a village about 50 miles south of the Nepal capital Katmandu.

The aircraft, operated by Nepalese carrier Agni Air, was trying to return to Katmandu.

There were four Americans and a Japanese national on board. All the others were Nepalese.

Initially, efforts to reach the crash site were hampered by the fact that the area has no roads and is accessible only by foot, with the route from the nearest town being blocked by a river flooded by monsoon rainfall.

Later, the rescue coordination office at Katmandu airport said soldiers reached the crash site on foot and were collecting the bodies but rescue helicopters were unable to reach the area as rain was still falling and visibility was low.