Helicopter Crashes at Lobuche: No Casualties

An Altitude Air helicopter has crashed near Lobuche in Solukhumbu, close to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

According to Chief District Officer Lilakumari KC Pandey, the helicopter slipped while attempting to land at the Lobuche helipad this morning.

Police confirmed that only the pilot Bivek Khadka, was on board and he is safe.

The Altitude Air helicopter, with the call sign Alpha Mike Sierra, had flown from Lukla early in the morning to pick up foreign tourists.

It reportedly skidded on snow and crashed while landing at around 8:15 a.m.

The helicopter had taken off from Lukla at 7:43 a.m. for a rescue flight to Lobuche.

According to District Police Chief DSP Manojit Kunwar, pilot Khadka was airlifted back to Lukla by a Kailash Air helicopter.

Police said there was no fire, and the helicopter was found overturned at the site.

Due to heavy snowfall in the Khumbu region since early morning, helicopters had been conducting rescue flights for stranded tourists.