At least five tourists killed in helicopter crash near Mount Everest
At least five people have died after a helicopter crashed near Mount Everest in Nepal.
The aircraft was carrying five tourists, who were foreign nationals, as well as the pilot, when it dropped off the radar at around 10.12am local time (5.12am UK time) today.
Private company Manang Air operates the chopper which went missing shortly after taking off from Surke Airport, according to The Himalayan Times.
It had reportedly left at 10.04am (5.04am UK time) and was heading for Kathmandu when it lost contact eight minutes later near the Lamjura Pass.
According to Tribhuvan International Airport manager, Gyanendra Bhul, it was around 12,000ft in the air when communications cut out.
Mr Bhul said: ‘The chopper was en-route to Kathmandu from Solukhumbu and got disconnected with the control tower at around 10 in the morning.’
Airport official Sagar Kadel said the planned flight route had been changed due to adverse weather conditions.
A search and rescue mission was launched and the helicopter is now confirmed to have come down.
Identities of the passengers travelling in the helicopter have not yet been confirmed – although they are thought to be Mexican nationals.
The pilot has been identified as senior captain Chet B Gurung.
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