A tragic helicopter crash occurred in Nepal’s Nuwakot district on Wednesday afternoon, claiming the lives of all five individuals on board, including the pilot, senior captain Arun Malla, and four Chinese nationals. The helicopter, operated by Air Dynasty, had departed from Kathmandu and was en route to Syabrubesi. It lost contact with ground staff just three minutes after takeoff, around 1:57 PM, after reaching Surya Chaur.
The fiery crash site in the Suryachaur area, northwest of Kathmandu, prompted immediate rescue operations. Authorities confirmed the deaths of all passengers, with bodies recovered by Superintendent of Police Shantiraj Koirala and his team. Among the victims were two men, one woman, and the pilot. One body remains unidentified due to severe burns.
The crash site was promptly reached by a Prabhu helicopter dispatched from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). This incident follows closely after a Saurya Airlines plane crash at Tribhuvan International Airport on July 24, which resulted in 18 fatalities, with the captain as the sole survivor.
Nepal has a history of aviation accidents, often attributed to its mountainous terrain, rapidly changing weather conditions, and safety oversight issues. In January 2023, a Yeti Airlines plane crash in Pokhara led to 72 deaths. The European Union has flagged Nepal’s aviation safety oversight as insufficient.
The recent helicopter crash has heightened concerns about aviation safety in the region. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash, amidst growing scrutiny over the safety of Nepal’s air travel industry.
