Helicopter Crash Near Mount Everest In Nepal Claims Five Lives, One Person Still Missing

Five individuals have tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash near Mount Everest in Nepal on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the Lamajura area, and while the bodies of five victims have been recovered, one person remains missing.

Basanta Bhattarai, the chief government administrator in the area, confirmed the recovery of the bodies and ongoing search efforts for the sixth individual.

The ill-fated helicopter was conducting a sightseeing tour to the renowned peak, and was en route back to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, on Tuesday morning.

The passengers on board were reportedly Mexican nationals, all belonging to the same family, while the pilot was Nepalese.

According to Sagar Kadel, an airport official, changes to the flight route were necessitated by unfavorable weather conditions. During the monsoon season, heavy rains often lead to flight delays and altered routes in the region.

Initially reported as missing, the helicopter wreckage was eventually discovered near the Lamjura Pass in the Solukhumbu district. Police estimate the accident occurred at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters (around 2.2 miles) above sea level.

Officials stated, “‘Five bodies have been recovered from the accident site, and the search operation is underway,” as reported by The Himalayan Times.

The conclusion of the tourist and mountaineering season in May marks a decline in tourist flights to the mountains due to the onset of the rainy season. Poor visibility and unpredictable weather conditions further contribute to the reduced frequency of such flights during this period of the year.