Tragedy struck near Mount Everest on Tuesday when a helicopter carrying tourists crashed, claiming the lives of six individuals, according to Nepalese officials.
The ill-fated aircraft, carrying five Mexican tourists and a Nepalese pilot, went down in the Lamjura area, as confirmed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal in a press release.
Local residents and police who arrived at the crash site reported that all six individuals, including the pilot, had tragically lost their lives.
The group of tourists consisted of two men and three women who were returning to Kathmandu, the capital city, after witnessing the majestic views of the world’s highest peak earlier that morning.
Airport officials revealed that the helicopter had to alter its planned flight route due to adverse weather conditions. During the monsoon season, which typically starts in mid-June, heavy rains often lead to flight delays and route adjustments.
The helicopter lost contact with the ground shortly after taking off from Surke at around 10:13 a.m., en route to Kathmandu.
Despite efforts to rescue the victims, the adverse weather conditions prevented two helicopters from Altitude Air from landing at the crash site, situated on Lamjura Pass at an altitude of 13,779 feet.
Local security agencies have been mobilized to aid in the rescue operation, and the bodies of the victims will be transported by ground to the helicopter landing area before being flown to Kathmandu.
The passengers have been identified as Fernando Sifuentes, Abric Gonzalez, Olacio Luz Gonzalez, Maria Jose Sifuentes, and Ismael Rincon, all tourists from Mexico. The pilot, Captain Chet B Gurung, was a Nepalese national.
The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time, but the majority of aviation accidents in Nepal can be attributed to CFIT (Controlled Flight into Terrain), wherein an aircraft collides with mountains concealed by clouds.
This incident marks the most devastating crash in Nepal since a passenger plane went down six months ago, claiming the lives of 72 passengers and four crew members.
Over the years, Nepal has witnessed 73 crashes resulting in 941 fatalities. Helicopters have been involved in at least 10 of these accidents, leading to the deaths of 77 individuals.
