Nepal Army helicopter crashes in Muktinath, both pilots killed

MUKTINATH: A cargo helicopter of the Nepal Army crashed on Wednesday morning in Muktinath in Nepal. Both pilots in the helicopter have been killed. Nepal's Home Ministry has clarified that the cargo helicopter which crashed in Muktinath was of Makalu Air, which had been requisitioned by the Army to carry goods. 

Deputy Director General at Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Rajan Pokharel said the Makalu Air cargo aircraft crashed at Simikot Pass in Bahun Kharka, Humla. The plane was flying at a height of 12,800 feet. The single-engine Cessna 208B Grand Caravan with call sign 9N-AJU had taken off from Surkhet to Humla district headquarters Simikot. It took off from Surkhet Airport at 6:12 am this morning and was scheduled to land at 6:55 am in Simikot, the report said.

Makalu Air has three single-engine Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft to its fleet. Based in Nepalgunj, Makalu Air provides chartered passenger and cargo services, it said. 

The freight transporter aircraft was discovered wrecked and fragmented into three parts in Ekalbajkharka at around 11:00 am. The plane was mostly used for flying food and other supplies in the mountainous region. 

(With PTI inputs)