Kathmandu: A helicopter carrying six people, including five Mexicans, crashed near Mount Everest in Nepal on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. The debris of the chopper was found in Lamjura in Solukhumbu district.
The helicopter, a Manang Air AS350 B3, was en route from Lukla to Kathmandu when it lost contact with air traffic control. A search and rescue operation was launched, and the bodies of five of the six people on board were found at the crash site. The sixth person is still missing.
The cause of the crash is not yet known, but officials say that bad weather may have been a factor. The helicopter was flying in foggy conditions at the time of the crash.
The five Mexican nationals who died in the crash have been identified as; Luis Alberto Roselló Flores, Juan Enrique Sánchez de la Vega, Adrián Martín Diego García, José Luis González García, and Juan Carlos Lara Ramírez. The sixth person who is still missing has not been identified.
This is the second helicopter crash near Mount Everest in recent months. In May 2023, a helicopter carrying 10 people crashed near the base camp, killing all on board.
Helicopters are a common mode of transportation in Nepal, but they are also a risky proposition. The high altitude and treacherous terrain make flying in Nepal a challenge, and even experienced pilots can be caught in bad weather.
The crash of this helicopter is a reminder of the dangers of flying in Nepal, and the risks that climbers and tourists take when they travel to the region.
The families of the victims have been informed of the crash, and the Nepali government has launched an investigation into the cause.