Small Passenger Plane Struck A Helicopter During Takeoff Near Mt. Everest

Three people were fatally injured Sunday when a Let L-410 departing from the only airport near Mt. Everest exited the runway and struck a parked helicopter at the airport. For others were also injured in the accident.

The New York Times reports that the L-410 belonged to Summit Air, while the helicopter was owned by Manang Air. Both are private carriers that serve the tourism industry in Nepal.

The pilot of the airplane and two police officers who were not aboard either aircraft but near the parked helicopter were fatally injured. Four passengers and a flight attendant on board the L-410 were injured but survived, according to civil administrator Narendra Kumar Rana. Authorities suspended service at Tenzing Hillary Airport at Lukla following the accident.

The airport is considered one of the most dangerous in the world. The airport elevation is 9,334 feet, and it has a difficult approach and short runway. It is only open to smaller airplanes such as the L-410 and helicopters.

The airplane was enroute to Kathmandu from Lukla when the accident occurred, according to aviation official Raj Kumar Chhetri.

(Image from video posted to Facebook by Naya News Nepal)

FMI: Source report