A distressing situation unfolded as a helicopter crash on its way from Solukhumbu to Kathmandu, carrying five international nationals, disappeared near Mount Everest in Nepal. Further, the disappearance has sparked a massive search and rescue operation. The authorities are scrambling to locate the aircraft and its occupants. Read on to know more.
The Helicopter Crash
According to The Kathmandu Post, the region is situated between Lukla and Phaplu. Additionally, the site stated that residents had informed them that the helicopter was found crashed in Chihandanda in Lamjura of Bhakanje village, citing the rural municipality deputy chair Nwang Lhakpa Sherpa.
Information officer Gyanendra Bhul stated that the helicopter was traveling from Solukhumbu to Kathmandu when it lost contact with the control tower at around ten in the morning. At 10:12 a.m. (Local Time), the helicopter with the call sign 9NMV disappeared from view. Five foreign nationals were aboard the missing helicopter.
There are 6 people aboard (5 passengers and 1 skipper). According to a tweet from Nepal’s civil aviation authority, the search and rescue chopper Altitude Air departed from Kathmandu. Basically, five international visitors were being transported by helicopter from the high Solukhumbu district in eastern Nepal to Kathmandu by the private company Manang Air, based in that city.
Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV (AS 50) which departed from Surke (Solukhumbu) to Kathmandu at 10:05 local time is out of contact.
Total persons on board: 6
(5 passengers + 1 captain).
Altitude Air helicopter departed from Kathmandu for search and rescue.— Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (@hello_CAANepal) July 11, 2023
Also, the Himalayan Times cited sources at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, stating that the helicopter’s senior captain was Chet Gurung.
Efforts To Rescue
As the rescue effort is in progress, a top TIA official said that a thorough report is still to emerge.
The official also reported that the neighborhood residents had told him that the helicopter had crashed with a loud explosion. And that they had seen fire at the disaster site.
The neighborhood has been given access to local police. The senior airport official stated that two helicopters sent earlier to identify the crash site had to return owing to severe weather and that the precise cause of the crash is yet unknown.
The Passengers
Five of the six persons who were aboard the helicopter bodies were discovered at the crash scene. In an earlier statement, TIA spokesperson Teknath Sitaula said, “It has been reported that the helicopter of Manang Air is out of contact, there is no contact with the tower when it reached the Lamjura pass, and it was reported that the helicopter only received a ‘hello’ message on Viber. The search is underway.”
Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV crashed at Lamjura, Solukhumbu. As per local police, 5 dead bodies found. On-board list:
Nepalese:
1)Capt. C.B. GURUNG
Mexican:
2)Mr. SIFUENTES G. FERANDO
3)Ms. GONZALEZ ABRIC
4)Ms. GONZALEZ OLACIO LUZ
5)Ms. SIFUENTES G. MARIA JOSE
6)Mr. RINCON ISMAEL— Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (@hello_CAANepal) July 11, 2023
Deeply saddened by the unfortunate helicopter crash. Share your thoughts in the comment section. Stay tuned for further updates.
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