Three People Killed In Helicopter Accident Near Mount Everest

Three People Killed In Helicopter Accident Near Mount Everest

A small plane veered off the runway and hit two helicopters while
taking off near Mount Everest on Sunday, killing three people and
injuring three, officials said.  

The accident happened at Lukla airport which is the main gateway to
the Everest region and is reputed to be one of the most difficult in the
world for landings and take-offs. A co-pilot of the turbo-prop Let-410
plane run by Summit Air bound for Kathmandu and a police officer on the
ground were killed on the spot, Lukla airport official Ema Nath Adhikari
told AFP.

Another policeman died in hospital in Kathmandu, a police spokesman
confirmed. “The plane slipped towards the helipad during take-off and
collided with two helicopters. The injured have been sent to Kathmandu
for treatment. We are not sure about the cause of the accident” Adhikari
said.  

Photos from the scene showed mangled and scorched wreckage of the
plane and helicopters. Lukla airport is used by thousands of trekkers
and climbers heading for the Everest region each year. It is
particularly busy in April as the spring mountain climbing season
begins.