Tragedy struck near Mount Everest in Nepal as a helicopter carrying foreign tourists crashed, resulting in the death of at least five people, while one person remains missing, according to officials.
The ill-fated aircraft, operated by Manang Air, was transporting five Mexican nationals and a Nepali pilot back to Kathmandu, the capital, after a sightseeing excursion to the world’s highest peak on Tuesday. Departing from Surke in the Solukhumbu district at 10:04 local time (04:19 GMT), the helicopter lost contact around 10 minutes later before crashing in the Lamajura area.
Airport official Sagar Kadel explained that adverse weather conditions necessitated alterations to the helicopter’s intended flight path. During the monsoon season, heavy rainfall often leads to flight delays and route modifications in the region.
Rescuers have retrieved the bodies of five individuals, while efforts are underway to locate the sixth person, as confirmed by Basanta Bhattarai, the chief government administrator in the area.
Typically, this time of year sees a decline in tourist flights to the mountains due to poor visibility and unpredictable weather conditions following the conclusion of the tourist and mountaineering season in May.
This incident occurred nearly six months after a plane crash in western Nepal claimed the lives of all 72 individuals on board. The challenging terrain of Nepal’s remote runways, nestled among snow-capped peaks, poses a formidable challenge even for experienced pilots.
The mountainous region is susceptible to rapid weather changes, creating perilous flying conditions. Moreover, Nepal’s aviation sector has grappled with safety concerns due to inadequate training and maintenance practices. The European Union has taken the step of prohibiting all Nepali carriers from entering its airspace due to these safety concerns.
