A helicopter crash in central Nepal on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of all five individuals on board, including the pilot and four Chinese passengers.
The Air Dynasty chopper was en route from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, a popular starting point for trekking routes when it lost contact with air traffic control just three minutes after takeoff. The crash occurred in Nuwakot district, north of the capital, as confirmed by a press release from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki reported, “All five people aboard, including the pilot, are dead.”
Nuwakot district officer Ram Krishna Adhikari added that rescue teams have retrieved the bodies from the crash site and are continuing their operation.
Nepal has a troubled history with aviation safety, experiencing numerous fatal light plane and helicopter crashes over the decades.
The nation’s air industry, which has expanded rapidly in recent years, is essential for transporting goods and people to remote areas and for supporting the influx of foreign trekkers and climbers.
However, the industry has been hampered by poor safety standards, inadequate training, and maintenance issues, compounded by the country’s challenging mountainous terrain.
The European Union has prohibited all Nepali carriers from its airspace due to these safety concerns. This latest incident follows a plane crash in Kathmandu two weeks earlier, which killed all 18 people on board except the pilot.
Nepal’s most recent major commercial flight disaster occurred in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed while landing in Pokhara, killing all 72 passengers. This was the deadliest aviation accident in Nepal since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed on approach to Kathmandu, killing all 167 people on board. Earlier that same year, a Thai Airways aircraft crashed near Kathmandu, resulting in 113 fatalities.
As investigations into the crash continue, the incident underscores the urgent need for improved aviation safety measures in Nepal.
