Nepal helicopter crash highlights: All 6 bodies recovered from Mount Everest region; airlifted for post-mortem

According to the civil aviation authority of Nepal, Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV (AS50) which went missing this morning at 10:13 Local Time, was found crashed at Solukhumbu district Likhupike, Ward No. 5 near Lamjura. Locals and the police who reached the crashed site reported all 6 persons including the pilot dead. For comprehensive news coverage, stay tuned to Hindustan Times

All six dead bodies have been airlifted to Kathmandu Teaching Hospital for post-mortem, tweeted Tribhuvan International Airport Civil Aviation Office.

With the arrival of the rainy season in Nepal, the tourist and mountaineering season concluded in May. During this time of the year, tourist flights to the mountains are less frequent due to reduced visibility and unpredictable weather conditions.

The exact cause of the crash, however, is a matter of investigation.

The aircraft was returning to the capital Kathmandu on Tuesday morning after bringing the tourists on a sightseeing trip to the world’s highest peak.

Weather conditions had caused the helicopter's planned flight route to be changed, airport official Sagar Kadel told AP.

It is common for flights to be delayed and routes changed during the monsoon season amid heavy rains.

Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel expresses grief over the death of Captain Sibi Gurung and five Mexicans in the Manang Air helicopter crash in Solukhumbu: Office of the President

The helicopter was carrying 6 people including the pilot, 5 of whom were tourists from the same family from Mexico.

"I am shocked by the news that the helicopter of Manang Air flying from Solukhumbu to Kathmandu has crashed. Expressing our heartfelt condolences to the crew members and passengers who lost their lives in the accident, we express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families," tweeted Nepal's Ex-PM Deuba

Six people died when a tourist helicopter crashed in Nepal's Mount Everest region. Nepal has had at least 12 fatal plane crashes since 2010. Read full list here

"Honourable Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has expressed grief over the incident of Manang Air helicopter flying from Surke, Solukhumbu to Kathmandu, in which 5 people died and 1 passenger was missing," PMO Nepal tweeted.

Two helicopters of Altitude Air have been mobilised for the rescue operations. Due to adverse weather conditions, helicopters could not land at the crash site and have now landed at Bhakanje of the same district, which is the nearest appropriate place to the crash site. In the meantime, locals and security agencies have also been mobilised for the rescue works. Efforts are being made to carry the dead bodies by ground transportation to the helicopter landing area and further to Kathmandu.

Another helicopter from Simrik Air is also being mobilized for the rescue operation.

According to the civil aviation authority of Nepal, Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV (AS50) which went missing this morning at 10:13 Local Time, found crashed at Solukhumbu district Likhupike, Ward No. 5 near Lamjura. Locals and the police who reached the crashed site reported all 6 persons including Pilot dead. 

Nepal is notorious for its poor air safety, and Tuesday's incident is the latest in a string of aviation accidents in the country. The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace over safety concerns.

The Embassy of Mexico in India said in a tweet that it is in continuous communication and working with the Nepalese authorities. A tourist helicopter carrying five Mexican passengers with one Nepali pilot crashed in the Mount Everest region.

Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV crashed at Lamjura, Solukhumbu. As per local police, 5 dead bodies were found, said the civil aviation authority of Nepal.

1. CAPT. C.B. Gurung (Pilot) Nepali 

2. Sifuentes G. Ferrando - Mexican

3. Gonzalez Abric - Mexican

4. Gonzalez Olacio Luz - Mexican

5. Sifuentes G. Maria Jose - Mexican

6. Rincon Ismael Mexican

All six individuals aboard a tourist helicopter in Nepal tragically lost their lives when it crashed shortly after take-off near Mount Everest on Tuesday, as confirmed by aviation authorities.

The helicopter, operated by Manang Air, was en route to the capital city of Kathmandu from the vicinity of Lukla, the primary access point for climbing expeditions to the planet's tallest summit. However, approximately 10 minutes after departing at 10:04 am (local time), communication with the aircraft was abruptly severed.

Nepal is notorious for its poor aviation safety, and the latest incident comes six months after a plane crash in the country's west that killed all 72 people on board.

Bodies of all the five foreign nationals who were aboard the crashed Manang Air helicopter have been found, AFP reported citing the civil aviation authority of Nepal.

In January of this year, a tragic plane crash in Nepal killed 71 people. It was the country's most devastating airplane accident in three decades, occurring near the popular tourist destination of Pokhara.

 The chopper that killed six foreign nationals including five Mexicans is owned by Manang Air that operates helicopters in commercial air transportation within the Nepalese territory under the Regulation of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Click here to know more

Captain Chet Bahadur Gurung was piloting the Manang Air helicopter that went missing and subsequently crashed on Tuesday morning. He has been with Manang Air for a decade and has been flying since 1998, according to epardafas.com, a Nepalese media company.

The wreckage of crashed Nepalese helicopter has been recovered, ANI reported citing police. “The helicopter has been found at the border of Likhu PK village council and Dudhkunda Municipality-2 commonly called Lamajura Danda. The villagers have retrieved the five bodies,” Koshi Province Police DIG Rajeshnath Bastola was quoted as saying by ANI.

The missing Nepalese helicopter carried five Mexican nationals and pilot Chet B Gurung. As per MyRepublica news portal citing sources, the remains of five out of the six individuals on the helicopter were found at the location of the crash. (Inputs from PTI)

The helicopter crashed in the Lamjura area of Likhupike Rural Municipality in the remote and mountainous Solukhumbu district. According to an official, local residents reported that the helicopter crashed with a loud explosion, and they witnessed a fire at the crash site.

“The locals discovered the crashed helicopter at Chihandanda,” rural municipality deputy chair Nwang Lhakpa was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post newspaper. (PTI)

Operation and safety manager of Manang Air said that the last location of the chopper was tracked at 10:12 am in the Lamjura Pass area. (PTI)