A helicopter tragically crashed in a forest near Kathmandu, Nepal, shortly after takeoff on Wednesday, resulting in the loss of all five individuals on board. This incident adds to a history of over a dozen air crashes in the mountainous region since 2000.
The helicopter, operated by Air Dynasty, went down in a Himalayan forest within Shivapuri National Park in the Nuwakot district, about 57 kilometers (35 miles) from Kathmandu, according to Deputy Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Humagain.
Police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki confirmed that all four passengers were Chinese nationals—three men and one woman—while the pilot was a Nepali man.
Residents reported seeing flames coming from the forest, prompting them to alert the authorities.
The helicopter, which was headed to Rasuwa district from Kathmandu, lost contact with air traffic control just three minutes after takeoff, according to a statement from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
Over the past 24 years, more than 360 people have lost their lives in plane or helicopter crashes in Nepal.
Nestled between India and China, landlocked Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks. Its aircraft often service small, remote airports located in hilly areas or near peaks shrouded in clouds.
