Security force personnel search for the victims at the site of a helicopter crash on the outskirts of Kathmandu on August 7, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Four Chinese tourists were among five people killed in Nepal on Wednesday (August 7, 2024) when a helicopter crashed in the mountains northwest region of Kathmandu.

The police have recovered five dead bodies from the crash site in Ward No. 7 of Shivapuri Rural Municipality, Nuwakot, My Republica newspaper reported.

Nepal-based Air Dynasty helicopter, 9N-AJD, was en route to Rasuwa from Kathmandu when it crashed. The helicopter departed from Kathmandu at 1:54 p.m. and was en route to Syaphrubensi when it crashed.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), “a Prabhu helicopter (9N-ANL) was dispatched to the crash site immediately after the incident.”

“There were five individuals on board, including four Chinese tourists,” the paper said. “The helicopter lost contact with the tower just three minutes after takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport,” according to the CAAN.

Citing a police official, the paper said that the bodies of two men, one woman and the pilot, identified as Arun Malla, were recovered from the crash site.

One body has not been identified yet as it is charred beyond recognition, My republica reported.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Shantiraj Koirala at the Nuwakot District Police Office — who reached the crash site —confirmed that five bodies had been recovered.

This crash comes just weeks after the Saurya Airlines plane crash at the Tribhuvan International Airport on July 24. The crash claimed the lives of 18 people on board, with the captain being the sole survivor.

This latest incident raises serious concerns about air safety over the skies of the Himalayan nation, which has witnessed numerous air crashes in recent years.

A Nepalese woman welcomes her daughter who is evacuated from Israel, at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 13, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP

A group of 254 Nepali students rescued from the strife-torn Israel and led by Foreign Minister N. P. Saud arrived in Kathmandu on October 13.

A Nepal Airlines flight that took off from Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport on October 12 landed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu this morning after a stopover in Dubai.

Speaking to the media at the airport, Foreign Minister Saud, who flew to Israel a day before to facilitate the rescue mission, said the remaining Nepalis who have requested repatriation would be rescued soon.

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The Minister said 557 Nepalis had provided their details in response to a request from the Embassy of Nepal in Tel Aviv to those wishing to return to Nepal or relocate to safer places.

“Out of the 557 Nepalis, 503 had applied to return to Nepal and among them 254 have returned home today with us,” he was quoted as saying by the Himalayan Times newspaper.

Minister Saud also said that 54 Nepalis who had requested to be relocated from risky areas have been shifted to safer zones in Israel.

Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on Saturday which killed 10 Nepali students. Six students were rescued and one went missing.

“A search continues for Bipin Joshi who has gone missing following the attacks. We will share the information as soon as we get additional information on this,” Minister Saud said.

“The Israeli side has stated that it will take some time for handing over the bodies as it is required to complete the legal process and keep separate details of each and every deceased, and the number of bodies in Israel is currently very high,” he said, requesting the families and relatives of the deceased Nepalis to have patience.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were 265 students from Nepal studying under the Israel government-funded ‘Learn and Earn’ scheme in various parts of Israel, and about 4,500 Nepali citizens working in various professional fields.