Six people aboard a tourist helicopter in Nepal have died when the helicopter crashed soon after take-off in the Everest region on Tuesday.
Confirming that all six members on board lost their lives, Gyanendra Bhul of the Civil Aviation Authority, said the Manang Air flight was heading for the capital Kathmandu from near Lukla, the gateway for climbing expeditions to the world’s highest peak, with five Mexican travellers and a Nepali pilot onboard.
According to him, the chopper lost contact about 10 minutes after taking off.
Bhul however stated that two helicopters and teams had been deployed for a search and rescue operation.
Meanwhile, Nepal has a booming private helicopter industry, flying tourists and goods to remote corners of the Himalayan nation where road access is limited or non-existent, however noted for its poor air safety.
Credit: AFP
