Tragic Helicopter Crash in Nepal Claims Five Lives

A helicopter crash in a forest outside Kathmandu, Nepal, killed all five people aboard on Wednesday. The helicopter, operated by Dynasty Air, lost contact with air traffic control shortly after takeoff. Local authorities confirmed the fatalities included four Chinese nationals and one Nepali pilot.

A devastating helicopter crash occurred in a forest near Kathmandu on Wednesday, claiming the lives of all five aboard. The helicopter, run by Dynasty Air, crashed in the Himalayan forest within Shivapuri National Park, located 57 km from the capital, according to Deputy Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Humagain.

Police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki confirmed that four Chinese passengers—three men and one woman—were killed, along with the Nepali pilot. Eyewitnesses reported seeing flames in the forest and quickly notified authorities. The helicopter was on its way to Rasuwa district when it lost contact with air traffic control three minutes after takeoff, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said in a statement.

This incident is the latest in a series of air crashes that have plagued Nepal since 2000, resulting in over 360 fatalities. The country's challenging geography, home to eight of the world's fourteen highest peaks, often requires flights to small, remote airports accessible only through the cloud-covered skies.

(With inputs from agencies.)