In this file photo taken on May 31, 2021 the Himalayan Range is seen from the summit of Mount Everest (8,849 metres) in Nepal. (Photo by Lakpa SHERPA / AFP)
KATHMANDU, Nepal: A helicopter flying out of the Mount Everest area in Nepal carrying foreign tourists was missing Tuesday and contact was lost with the aircraft.
The helicopter was carrying five foreign tourists on a sightseeing tour to the world’s highest peak and was returning to the capital, Kathmandu, on Tuesday morning.
Airport official Sagar Kadel said weather conditions had caused changes to be made to the helicopter's flight route.
It is common for flights to be delayed and routes changed during the monsoon season amid heavy rains.
Search efforts were underway for the missing aircraft.
The tourist and mountaineering season ended in May with the onset of the rainy season and tourist flights to the mountains are not common this time of year as visibility gets poor and weather conditions become unpredictable.
