Authorities have confirmed that the Air Dynasty helicopter crashed in the Shivpuri area of Nuwakot disctrict in Nepal on Wednesday afternoon. According to local media reports, the helicopter had taken off from Kathmandu and was heading for Syaphrubensi.
Pilot, Mr Arun Malla, who is a senior captain at the airline, lost contact with ground staff within three minutes after takeoff.
A total of 5 people boarded the chopper when it took off including one pilot and four Chinese nationals. The Chinese were headed towards Rasuwa according to local media.
Local media quoting sources at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) said that the helicopter left Kathmandu at 1:54 pm on Wednesday. The authorities were last contacted by chopper around 1:57pm just after passing Surya Chaur.
Rescue work is ongoing at the scene of crash which burst into flames. All five passengers including pilot have died in this crash as confirmed by news agencies.
The rescue team has reached the crash site located in Suryachaur near northwest of Kathmandu. Immediately after the incident it sent a Prabhu helicopter (9N-ANL) there upon instruction from Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
Citing unnamed police official, Myrepublica reported that bodies of two men one woman and pilot identified as Arun Malla were recovered from the crash scene adding only one body is yet to be identified as it is completely charred.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Shantiraj Koirala, District Police Office Nuwakot who reached in-site confirmed recovery of five bodies.
This accident took place barely weeks after Saurya Airlines plane crashed at Tribhuvan International Airport on July 24 claiming lives of eighteen persons out of nineteen who had boarded it leaving only its captain alive. This latest incident increases concerns over air safety above the Himalayan country that has witnessed many plane crashes in recent times.
