A small plane operated by a private airline in Nepal hit a parked helicopter on Sunday morning while preparing to take off at the only airport near Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest, killing at least three people and injuring five others, officials said. The Twin Otter aircraft crashed into the helicopter at Tenzing Hillary Airport at Lukla, known as the gateway to the world's highest mountain, 125 kilometers (78 miles) northeast of capital Kathmandu.
The plane, operated by Summit Air, was not carrying passengers as it was trying to leave what is considered to be one of the world's most dangerous airports due to the shortness of its runway and its location surrounded by mountains.
Officials said the cause of the incident was not immediately known. "Two people died on the spot and the third one died while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Kathmandu," said Pratap Babu Tiwari, an airport official.
The dead included a co-pilot and two security guards who were near the helicopter. The pilot of the plane was among the people injured, though the lone stewardess escaped unhurt.
Air crashes are common in mostly mountainous Nepal. In February, a helicopter carrying seven people including the country's tourism minister crashed in bad weather in eastern Nepal, killing seven all on board.
Src: cgtn