Air Dynasty carrying Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari among six others crashes near Pathibhara of Taplejung

Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari among six others has crashed near Pathibhara of Taplelung on Wednesday afternoon.

Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Prem Kumar Rai confirmed that the helicopter carrying Minister Adhikari among six others went missing when it was en route to Chuhandanda of Tehrathum from Pathibhara of Taplejung. Undersecretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, Yubaraj Dahal and Ang Tshering Sherpa of the Air Dynasty were onboard.

At around 11:30 today morning, the minister and his team left Pathibhara for Chuhandanda of Tehrathum to take the stock of the ongoing airport.

The poor weather has barred the rescue operation, according to authorities.

The Air Dynasty helicopter was being flown by Captain Prabhakar KC.

Although the reason behind the crash remains unclear, initial reports show that the pilot had entered a cloud and lost control of the chopper before crashing into a cliff, locally known as Sisne Bhir. “It burst into flames a minute after it took off from Pathibhara Devi temple,” said Pratap Babu Tiwari, spokesperson of Tribhuvan International Airport.

Photographs from the crash scene show that the chopper descended from the Pathibhara Devi temple and hit a cliff a few feet below. The crash site has been located at around 10,000 feet. The temple, which is considered one of the most significant shrines for Hindus, sits at an elevation of 12,448 feet.

According to Tiwari, at 12:44 pm on Wednesday, the captain reported heavy snowfall in the area to the Taplejung Airport tower. “Heavy snowfall. Not able to airborne,” the pilot was reported as saying. Airport officials said the area had a strong wind during the afternoon and it was blanketed by thick clouds. The Kathmandu airport was informed about the crash at 1:30 pm.

Vital Personalities killed

Along with Adhikari, the crash claimed the lives of prominent tourism entrepreneur Ang Tshering Sherpa, managing director of Yeti Airlines and the chairman of Air Dynasty, Birendra Prasad Shrestha, deputy director-general of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Dhurba Bhochhibhoya, deputy director of CAAN, Yubaraj Dahal, A personal aide to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Arjun Kumar Ghimire, a Nepal Army official.

source: MyRepublic

Last Speech of Minister Rabindra Adhikari https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1BbemrtjwA