Kathmandu: A helicopter belonging to a private airline crash-landed near the Mount Everest region in Nepal on Wednesday morning, though the pilot, the only person on board, escaped with minor injuries, police have reported.

The Altitude Air helicopter had departed from Lukla without passengers and was on a mission to rescue stranded tourists in Lobuchem, located in the Khumbu region, when the accident occurred.

According to a police officer from the Solukhumbu District Police Office, the aircraft, piloted by Captain Vivek Khadka, skidded while attempting to land due to heavy snowfall in the area.

Although the helicopter broke into two pieces, the pilot did not sustain any serious injuries. He was airlifted back to Lukla for a medical check-up and is reported to be in a stable condition.

The incident comes amid severe weather in Nepal, which has left many trekkers stranded in mountainous areas, including Mustang, the Annapurna region, and the Everest region, over Tuesday and Wednesday.

Authorities have urged trekkers and mountaineers to exercise caution, with the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology forecasting heavy snowfall and rain across several parts of the country, including high-altitude regions.

PTI