On Wednesday, a tragic helicopter crash occurred in the northwest region of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. Four Chinese tourists and a Nepali pilot were killed in the crash, officials reported.
Details of the Crash
A police official confirmed that all five individuals on board, including the pilot, were killed. The helicopter, belonging to the private airline ‘Air Dynasty,’ crashed in the Shivapuri National Park area in Nuwakot district, approximately 30 km northwest of Kathmandu.
Flight Information
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal stated that the helicopter was en route to Rasuwa’s Syafrubesi area from Kathmandu, carrying four Chinese tourists—three men and one woman. The helicopter was piloted by Captain Arun Malla.
Timeline of the Crash
The helicopter departed from Tribhuvan International Airport at 1:54 pm and lost contact with the control tower just three minutes after takeoff. The crash occurred around 2 pm local time.
Aftermath
The bodies of the victims were transported to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital at Maharajgunj in Kathmandu for postmortem examinations.
Investigation
The Nepalese government has established a three-member committee to investigate the incident. Government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung announced that an emergency cabinet meeting appointed Nepal Army’s Senior Pilot Subash Thapa to lead the investigation. The committee has 30 days to submit its report.
Previous Air Crashes
This crash follows a recent Saurya Airlines plane crash at Tribhuvan International Airport on July 24, which resulted in the deaths of 18 people on board, with the captain being the sole survivor. The latest incident raises significant concerns about air safety in the Himalayan nation, which has experienced numerous air crashes in recent years.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Where did the helicopter crash occur?
- A) Shivapuri National Park
- B) Tribhuvan International Airport
- C) Syafrubesi area
- D) Maharajgunj
- How many people were on board the helicopter that crashed?
- A) Four
- B) Five
- C) Six
- D) Seven
- What was the nationality of the tourists on the helicopter?
- A) Nepali
- B) Indian
- C) Chinese
- D) Bhutanese
- Who was piloting the helicopter at the time of the crash?
- A) Subash Thapa
- B) Prithvi Subba Gurung
- C) Arun Malla
- D) Unspecified pilot
- When did the helicopter lose contact with the control tower?
- A) Immediately after takeoff
- B) Three minutes after takeoff
- C) Ten minutes after takeoff
- D) Half an hour after takeoff
- What action did the government take following the crash?
- A) Declared a national mourning
- B) Formed a three-member investigation committee
- C) Banned all helicopter flights
- D) Increased airport security
- Who is heading the committee to probe the incident?
- A) Prithvi Subba Gurung
- B) Arun Malla
- C) Subash Thapa
- D) A police official
- How long does the committee have to submit its report?
- A) 15 days
- B) 30 days
- C) 45 days
- D) 60 days
- When did the previous Saurya Airlines plane crash occur?
- A) July 10
- B) July 24
- C) August 1
- D) August 5
- What major concern has been raised due to the recent air crashes in Nepal?
- A) Increased airline prices
- B) Air safety over the skies of the Himalayan nation
- C) Shortage of pilots
- D) Reduced tourism