Nepal's Tourism Minister among 7 killed in chopper crash

Kathmandu, February 27: Nepal's tourism minister, Rabindra Adhikari, is among seven people who died in a helicopter crash today, says Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority. The crash is suspected to have taken place in Nepal's Tehrathum district.

 

Besides Adhikari, the Air Dynasty helicopter was carrying six others, including Ang Tsering Sherpa, a prominent aviation and hospitality entrepreneur, Yubaraj Dahal, personal aide to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Birendra Prasad Shrestha, Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, news agency PTI said.

Moments after the chopper was reported missing, local residents in Pathibara area informed the police about a huge flame at the crash site.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Minister has summoned an emergency cabinet meeting at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Baluwatar.

Nepal has some of the world's most remote and tricky runways, flanked by snow-capped peaks with approaches that pose a challenge for even accomplished pilots.