• Source:JND

Nepal Helicopter Crash: A helicopter of Air Dynasty with the Call Sign 9NAFQ has met with an accident in Nepal's Kotang on Wednesday after afternoon, local media reported. The chopper with six people including the pilot on board crashed at Baksila in Kopilasgadhi Rural Municipality, Khotang at 12:2 pm while it was landing, the District Police Office, Khotang told Nepalkhabar.

"A helicopter crashed in Khotang District of Nepal, while landing in the farmland. The helicopter was carrying a body and had flown in from Kathmandu. No human casualties has been recorded. More details are awaited", Chief District Officer, Rekha Kandel to ANI.

As per the company, the helicopter had flown for the district with 5 passengers on board. The helicopter with the registration sign 9N-ASQ crashed and landed at around 11:51 AM in Khotang.

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"One passenger on board the helicopter has been injured. The pilot and other passengers are not injured. Another helicopter with registration number 9N-ANA has also been dispatched for the rescue of the injured passenger," the helicopter company announced in a statement.

As per the preliminary investigation, the helicopter might have crashed due to high winds or the dust accumulated during landing.

As per the company pilot, Sabin Thapa was on board the helicopter.

Why does Nepal suffer so many air crashes?

Wedged between India and China, landlocked Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks, and its planes often have to service small airports nestled in remote hills or near peaks blanketed in clouds.

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Apart from the physical obstructions, the terrain can also experience sudden weather changes that affect wind speeds and intensity, making navigation tricky.
In a 2023 safety report, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said collision with terrain or another obstacle was the main risk, accounting for 93% of deaths in air accidents in the prior decade.

Because of Nepal's scarcity of flat terrain, several areas have tabletop runways, built by excavating peaks to create a flat surface. These have sheer drops at one or both ends, calling for greater skill in landing aircraft but also leading to massive injuries or fatalities if pilots overshoot on the approach.

(With inputs from ANI and Reuters)

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