Nepal: Altitude Air's rescue helicopter crashes near Everest base camp

Altitude Air helicopter crashes near Everest Base Camp

A rescue helicopter belonging to Nepal’s private airline, Altitude Air, crashed near Lobuche in the Khumbu region, close to Everest Base Camp, on Wednesday. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the helicopter, identified by the call sign 9N-AMS, was on a rescue mission at the time of the incident.

Pilot rescued safely after crash

The pilot, Captain Vivek Khadka, was the only person on board. He was rescued soon after the crash and flown to Lukla for medical evaluation. Authorities said his condition remains stable. Police sources from Solukhumbu District confirmed that the aircraft broke into two parts following the accident, though no fatalities were reported.

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Officials revealed that the helicopter had taken off from Lukla without passengers to assist stranded trekkers in Lobuche when it went down. Initial reports suggest that heavy snowfall and poor visibility may have caused the pilot to lose control while attempting to land.

Weather conditions hinder rescue operations

The crash occurred amid severe weather that has left many trekkers stranded across Nepal’s major mountain regions, including Mustang, Annapurna, and Everest. Authorities have issued advisories urging mountaineers and tourists to exercise caution, as the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology continues to forecast heavy snowfall and rainfall in several parts of the country’s high-altitude districts.

Ongoing safety concerns in the Himalayas

Adverse weather has created a series of challenges in recent weeks. Earlier in October, a blizzard on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest trapped hundreds of trekkers before large-scale rescue operations brought them to safety. Nepal has also been grappling with floods and landslides triggered by extended rainfall, resulting in more than 50 deaths nationwide.