PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) – In a tragic incident near the base of Mount Everest, a helicopter crash resulted in the death of five Mexican tourists and a Nepali pilot on Tuesday. The cause of the crash, which occurred in the Likkhu region north of the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, remains unknown at this time.
The Mexican victims, who were all part of the same family, included a couple and their three children. The Nepalese authorities have successfully recovered the bodies of the six individuals from the crash site. The helicopter was operated by Manang Air, a company known for providing flights for tourists to admire the towering peaks of the Himalayas.
The helicopter was returning to Kathmandu from the Solukhumbu district, a common starting point for visitors to the Himalayan region and the home of the world’s tallest mountain. The Nepal Civil Aviation Authority has identified the deceased as Fernando Sifuentes G., Abric González, Luz González Olacio, María José Sifuentes G., Ismael Rincón, and the Nepali pilot, CB Gurung.
Contact with the helicopter was lost approximately 10 minutes after taking off at 10:04 a.m. (0419 GMT), according to the Nepali authorities. Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched, including the deployment of two helicopters and ground teams. Sadly, all the passengers and the pilot were found deceased.
Rescue efforts were hampered by the weather conditions, which prevented the rescue helicopters from landing near the crash site. “The teams had to travel on foot to recover the bodies,” said Gyanendra Bhul, a spokesperson for the Nepalese civil authority. The condition of the bodies and the wreckage was described as harrowing by local officials.
The Mexican family had reportedly arrived in Nepal from Delhi, India, on Sunday. They embarked on their helicopter tour to Lukla on Monday but were forced to stay overnight due to unfavorable weather. On Tuesday, they attempted their return trip, which ended in tragedy.
Raju Neupane, a spokesperson for Manang Air, confirmed that the helicopter had taken off in acceptable weather conditions. However, he did not comment on the potential cause of the crash, stating that it would be the subject of further investigation.
Despite the perilous conditions, Nepal’s helicopter tourism industry thrives due to the lack of road accessibility in many areas. This has, however, led to a spate of accidents in recent years, bringing the safety of these operations under scrutiny.
The Himalayan region is known for its treacherous airstrips, which are surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks and prone to harsh winds. Only this January, a Yeti Airlines flight crashed in western Nepal, resulting in the death of 72 people. This latest incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that this landscape poses for aviation.
PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - In a tragic incident near the base of Mount Everest, a helicopter crash resulted in the death of five Mexican tourists and a Nepali pilot on Tuesday. The cause of the crash, which occurred in the Likkhu region north of the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, remains unknown at this time.
The Mexican victims, who were all part of the same family, included a couple and their three children. The Nepalese authorities have successfully recovered the bodies of the six individuals from the crash site. The helicopter was operated by Manang Air, a company known for providing flights for tourists to admire the towering peaks of the Himalayas.
