Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: A rescue helicopter operated by Altitude Air crashed on Wednesday morning in Lobuche, a high-altitude area near Mount Everest in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district, a hub for global trekking and mountaineering expeditions.
According to Solukhumbu Police Inspector Pushpa Darlami, the helicopter, piloted by Captain Bibek Khadka, was en route for a mountain rescue mission when it met with an accident amid heavy snow conditions. The helicopter was reportedly dispatched to rescue a group of foreign trekkers stranded in deep snow near the Lobuche region — a key stopover for climbers heading to Everest Base Camp (EBC).
Fortunately, no human casualties have been reported so far. “The helicopter skidded and sustained damage during landing due to snow-covered terrain. All crew members are safe,” said Inspector Darlami.
Challenging Conditions in the Everest Region
The Everest region, globally renowned for its adventure tourism, has recently experienced heavy snowfall and adverse weather, posing serious risks to climbers, trekkers, and rescue pilots. The Lobuche area, situated at an altitude of around 4,900 meters (16,000 feet), often sees unpredictable weather that makes helicopter operations extremely dangerous.
Rescue flights play a crucial role in Nepal’s mountain tourism industry, especially during peak trekking seasons in spring and autumn. Dozens of emergency missions are carried out every year in the Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang regions, often saving the lives of mountaineers affected by altitude sickness, avalanches, or snowstorms.
While Nepal remains one of the world’s top adventure destinations, the country’s aviation safety has frequently drawn global attention. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has been under pressure from international aviation bodies and the European Union Air Safety Committee to enhance safety standards in both commercial and rescue operations.
Recent years have seen multiple incidents involving helicopters engaged in search and rescue missions in the Everest region — highlighting the extreme risks faced by pilots navigating rugged Himalayan terrain.
The Everest region continues to attract thousands of international trekkers and mountaineers annually, contributing significantly to Nepal’s tourism-driven economy. The Everest Base Camp trek, Gokyo Lakes trek, and Lobuche Peak climb are among the most popular high-altitude adventures in the world, drawing explorers from Europe, the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
Experts note that the combination of climate change, unpredictable snowfall, and increasing tourist footfall has intensified operational challenges for both rescue agencies and local authorities.
As investigations continue, authorities have temporarily suspended helicopter rescue flights in the Lobuche area pending a technical inspection.
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