Helicopter crash in Nepal claims 5 lives

Helicopter crash in Nepal claims 5 lives

In a tragic incident, a helicopter crash in central Nepal on Wednesday claimed the lives of all five people on board, including the pilot and four Chinese passengers.

The ill-fated Air Dynasty helicopter was en route from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, a popular starting point for many trekking routes.

The aircraft lost contact with air traffic control just three minutes after takeoff, and subsequently crashed in the Nuwakot district, north of the capital, according to a press release from the Civil Aviation Authority.

“All five people aboard including the pilot are dead,” confirmed police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki. Nuwakot district officer Ram Krishna Adhikari stated that the bodies have been retrieved and rescue operations are ongoing.

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Nepal has a notorious history of aviation accidents, particularly involving light planes and helicopters. The country’s aviation sector has seen significant growth, transporting goods and people to remote areas, as well as catering to foreign trekkers and climbers.

However, this growth has been overshadowed by persistent safety issues, including insufficient training and maintenance, compounded by Nepal’s challenging mountainous terrain.

The Himalayan nation is home to some of the world’s most remote and difficult runways, surrounded by snow-capped peaks that pose challenges even for experienced pilots. Due to these safety concerns, the European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace.

This helicopter crash follows a deadly plane crash in Kathmandu just two weeks ago, which claimed the lives of 18 people, except the pilot. Nepal’s last major commercial flight incident occurred in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed while landing in Pokhara, killing all 72 on board. This was the deadliest aviation disaster in Nepal since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed on approach to Kathmandu airport, resulting in 167 fatalities. Earlier that same year, a Thai Airways aircraft crash near the same airport killed 113 people.

These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges and urgent need for improved safety measures in Nepal’s aviation industry.

Helicopter crash in Nepal claims 5 lives