Five Mexican tourists and a Nepali pilot lost their lives in an accident when the helicopter they were traveling in crashed near the majestic Mount Everest, located in Nepal.
Unknown causes and location of accident
So far, the exact cause of the accident, which took place on Tuesday in the Likkhu area, north of the capital Kathmandu, is unknown.
A family tragedy
The victims, who were part of the same family, were a couple and their three children, according to the BBC Nepali service.
The recovery of the bodies and the airline
Nepalese authorities managed to recover the bodies of the six occupants of the helicopter, which was operated by Manang Air, a company specializing in providing services to tourists interested in exploring the peaks of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest.
The route and the fateful return
The helicopter was heading back to Kathmandu from the Solukhumbu district, where the world’s highest mountain is located and from where many Himalayan visitors begin their adventure. Unfortunately, tragedy struck this family and the Nepalese pilot on their return journey.
Victim identification
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has identified the deceased as Fernando Sifuentes G., Abric González, Luz González Olacio, María José Sifuentes G., Ismael Rincón and Nepalese pilot C.B. Gurung.
Search and rescue
According to AFP, contact with the helicopter was lost approximately 10 minutes after takeoff at 10:04 a.m. local time. Two helicopters and search and rescue teams were deployed on the ground to try to locate the occupants, but unfortunately all had died in the crash.
Difficulties in recovery
Due to difficult weather conditions, helicopters were unable to land near the crash site, a spokesman for the Nepalese civil authority explained. Rescuers had to travel on foot to retrieve the bodies of the victims.
A bleak panorama
A local official in the region where the plane went down described the scene as “very frightening” as bodies were torn apart due to the impact.
Mexican family trip details
It has been reported that the Mexican family had arrived from Delhi, India, to Nepal on Sunday. On Monday they took the helicopter to Lukla, but due to bad weather they could not return and had to wait until Tuesday, the day they undertook the fateful return flight.
Uncertainty about the causes of the accident
Manang Air has stated that the helicopter took off in favorable weather conditions. However, it has not yet been determined what caused this tragic accident and a thorough investigation will be necessary, according to the airline’s spokesman.
Safety in tourist helicopter flights in Nepal
Nepal has a thriving helicopter tour flight industry that allows travelers to access areas inaccessible by road. However, sometimes these flights are not carried out in optimal safety conditions, which has led to several accidents in recent years.
A reminder of the challenges in the region
The Everest region features some of the most dangerous airstrips in the world, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and exposed to strong winds, testing pilots’ skills. In January last year, another tragic accident occurred in western Nepal, claiming the lives of 72 people aboard a flight operated by Yeti Airlines.
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