Police in Nepal say a plane crash near an airport in the country's north has killed 15 people.

Authorities say six people on board survived Monday's crash and were flown to the nearby city of Pokhara for treatment. Those on board the Agni Air company plane included 16 Indians, two Westerners, two Nepalese pilots and a Nepalese flight attendant.

The French news agency quotes an official as saying the Westerners are Danish nationals. A police official tells AFP the six survivors include the two Westerners, the flight attendant and three Indian passengers.

The plane went down near Jomsom airport as it was about to land. The area is known as a popular trekking destination for tourists visiting the Himalayas.

Plane crashes in Nepal are not uncommon. Many communities are only accessible by foot or air.