Nepal helicopter crashes in Nuwakot district; 5 dead
An Air Dynasty helicopter crashed in the Shivpuri area of Nuwakot disctrict in Nepal on Wednesday afternoon, confirmed authorities. The helicopter had departed from Kathmandu and was en route to Syaphrubensi, local media reported.
Air Dynasty helicopter (Representational image)
The helicopter was piloted by senior captain Arun Malla, and lost contact with the ground staff just three minutes after its take off.
There were a total of five people on board the chopper when it took off, including four Chinese nationals and the pilot. The Chinese nationals were on their way to Rasuwa, reported local media.
Local media outlet, citing the souces at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), said that the helicopter departed from Kathmandu at 1:54 pm on Wednesday. The chopper lost contact with the authorities at around 1:57, after reaching Surya Chaur.
Rescue operations are being conducted on the fiery crash site. News agencies have confirmed that all five passengers on the chopper, including the pilot, have died in the crash.
Rescuers have reached the crash site in the Suryachaur area, which is just northwest of Kathmandu. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), a Prabhu helicopter (9N-ANL) was dispatched to the crash site immediately after the incident.
Citing a police official, the paper said that the bodies of two men, one woman and the pilot, identified as Arun Malla, were recovered from the crash site. One body has not been identified yet as it is charred beyond recognition, Myrepublica reported.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Shantiraj Koirala, at the District Police Office, Nuwakot, who reached the crash site, confirmed that five bodies had been recovered.
This crash comes just weeks after the Saurya Airlines plane crash at the Tribhuvan International Airport on July 24. The crash claimed the lives of 18 people on board, with the captain being the sole survivor. This latest incident raises serious concerns about air safety over the skies of the Himalayan nation, which has witnessed numerous air crashes in recent years.
(With inputs from PTI)
