A helicopter crash in central Nepal on August 7, 2024, resulted in the deaths of all five individuals on board, including the pilot and four Chinese nationals. The Air Dynasty helicopter lost contact shortly after taking off from Kathmandu, heading towards Syabrubesi, a popular trekking destination. It went down in the Nuwakot district, approximately three minutes after departure.
Recovery teams successfully retrieved all five bodies from the wreckage, which was located in a mountainous and forested area. Local authorities confirmed that the helicopter was a Eurocopter AS350, operated by Air Dynasty, which has faced scrutiny due to Nepal’s ongoing aviation safety challenges. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal is currently investigating the cause of the crash.
Nepal’s aviation sector has a troubling safety record, with numerous accidents attributed to the difficult mountainous terrain and insufficient training for pilots. The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace due to safety concerns, and this incident adds to a series of recent aviation tragedies in the country, including a plane crash that killed 18 people just weeks prior.