Nepal Police uncover $19.7 million fake helicopter rescue scam, Arrest operators targeting foreign trekkers

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has uncovered a large-scale fake rescue racket that systematically defrauded foreign trekkers, mountaineers, and international insurance companies under the guise of emergency helicopter evacuations in the Himalayas, raising serious concerns about governance, tourism integrity, and insurance fraud in one of the world’s most popular adventure travel destinations.

At a press conference held on Sunday, the Nepal Police’s elite investigative arm disclosed that three private helicopter and rescue-related companies were involved in orchestrating “fake rescues” of foreign tourists engaged in trekking and mountaineering activities.

These rescues were carried out without genuine medical emergencies, primarily to exploit international travel insurance policies.

According to CIB findings, Mountain Rescue Service Pvt Ltd was the most heavily involved. Investigators found that out of 1,248 helicopter evacuations conducted by the company, 171 were identified as fake rescues.

Through these false operations, the company allegedly submitted insurance claims exceeding USD 10 million, making it one of the largest documented cases of insurance fraud linked to adventure tourism in Nepal.

Similarly, Nepal Charter Service Pvt Ltd was found to have conducted 471 rescues, of which 75 were classified as fake. The company allegedly claimed USD 820,000 from insurance providers based on fraudulent evacuation justifications.

Another firm, Everest Experience & Assistance Pvt Ltd, conducted 601 rescues, with 71 cases deemed suspicious or fake, resulting in insurance claims totaling USD 1.153 million.

CIB Chief Additional Inspector General (AIG) Manoj KC stated that police are preparing to register cases involving total insurance claims of USD 19.69 million against the accused parties.

He confirmed that all identified incidents occurred after 2022 and that the investigation remains ongoing, with further financial and operational details still under scrutiny.

The police have already arrested senior executives and operational heads of the companies involved. Those taken into custody include Jayaprasad Sigdel, Chairman of Alpine Rescue Service, and its Manager Vivek Pandey; Rabindra Adhikari, Chairman of Nepal Charter Service, along with Operations Manager Vivek Raj Thapaliya; and Mukti Pandey, Director of Everest Experience & Assist, and Manager Subash K.C.

According to investigators, the fake rescue model followed a recurring pattern. Foreign tourists—often unaware of local systems—were advised or pressured into helicopter evacuations for minor illnesses or manageable altitude-related discomforts.

In some cases, tourists were allegedly misinformed about their medical condition, while in others, evacuation decisions were coordinated between trekking guides, medical facilitators, and helicopter operators. The costs were then billed directly to international insurance companies, often without rigorous verification.

The revelations have sent shockwaves through Nepal’s tourism and aviation sectors, both of which are critical to the country’s foreign exchange earnings and global image.

Nepal is a leading global destination for trekking, mountaineering, and adventure tourism, attracting hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors annually to the Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, and Manaslu regions.

Tourism experts warn that fake rescue scandals risk damaging Nepal’s credibility in the global travel insurance ecosystem.

International insurers may respond by tightening policy terms, raising premiums, or excluding helicopter rescues in Nepal altogether, which could adversely affect genuine emergency response operations in high-altitude regions.

The case also highlights regulatory gaps in Nepal’s rescue governance framework. While helicopter evacuations are often the only viable option in remote mountainous terrain, the lack of real-time medical verification, independent oversight, and transparent billing systems has created space for systemic abuse.

Analysts argue that stronger coordination among the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the Tourism Ministry, insurance regulators, and law enforcement agencies is urgently needed.

From an economic perspective, fake rescue operations inflate tourism costs, distort insurance risk models, and undermine sustainable tourism practices. They also divert critical aviation resources away from genuine life-saving missions, raising ethical and safety concerns.

The CIB has indicated that further arrests are possible as financial audits, flight logs, medical records, and insurance documentation continue to be analyzed. Authorities have not ruled out the involvement of additional companies, trekking agencies, or intermediaries.

As Nepal seeks to position itself as a safe, ethical, and responsible adventure tourism hub in the global market, the exposure of the fake rescue scam marks a critical moment.

The outcome of the investigation is expected to influence future policy reforms, international insurance relations, and Nepal’s standing in global trekking and mountaineering tourism.

For now, the message from law enforcement is clear: fake rescues are no longer being treated as operational irregularities, but as organized financial crimes with international consequences.