- Nepal aviation officials say the cause of the accident is unknown.
- Helicopter operated by Manang Air, which carries tourists.
- The rugged mountainous nation has a history of air crashes.
At least six people, including five Mexicans, lost their lives in a helicopter crash on Tuesday, according to Nepalese officials, who said the bodies had been recovered and an investigation had been launched.
The civil aviation regulator said the cause of the crash near Likku was still unknown, which is northeast of the capital Kathmandu, however, the government would set up a committee to investigate the accident.
According to Reuters, the helicopter was operated by Manang Air, which takes tourists for a view of the country’s highest peaks, including Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain.
Rescuers have recovered the bodies of all six, said Sita Adhikari, a regional officer in Solukhumbu district, the site of the accident.
“The bodies have been broken into pieces,” the officer said. “More police have been sent to the spot. Only then will we get the details.”
Teknath Sitaula, an airport official, said a Nepali pilot and five Mexican nationals were on board the plane.
“The helicopter took off in good weather,” said Manang Air spokesman Raju Newpen. “The weather was not bad. Now we cannot say what caused the accident. It has to be investigated.”
The rugged mountainous country has a history of air accidents, as many airlines fly to small airports near remote hills and cloud-shrouded peaks and cut off from roads.
Nepal’s worst air crash in 30 years killed 71 people in January when a plane crashed near the tourist city of Pokhara, leaving no trace of a body.
