KATHMANDU – A private helicopter carrying five US citizens made an emergency landing in Nepal after colliding with a bird in mid-air. The incident occurred near Banepa, about 50 kilometers east of Kathmandu, and resulted in no injuries or major damage.
The incident highlights the pilot’s skill in ensuring the safety of all on board. It came alongside two major international aviation incidents on the same day, highlighting the unpredictability of air travel.
Emergency helicopter landing in Kathmandu
On Sunday, a Heli Everest helicopter identified as 9N-AKG had to make an emergency landing after colliding with a bird during its flight from Lukla to Kathmandu.
Lukla, a key gateway to Mount Everest, is known for its difficult flight routes. The bird strike occurred around 11am while the plane was in mid-air.
Demonstrating exceptional professionalism, the pilot skillfully executed a safe emergency landing near Banepa, east of Kathmandu. All 5 American nationals and the Nepalese pilot on board escaped unharmed.
Despite the minimal damage, Heli Everest confirmed that the helicopter would undergo a thorough technical inspection to ensure its airworthiness.
Heli Everest praised the pilot’s quick and effective response to mitigate the incident, avoiding what could have been a major accident.
Other incidents today
This is the third such incident to occur today. First Jeju Air Flight, then Air Canada, and now Heli Everest.
Incident in South Korea
A Jeju Air flight 7C2216 crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea, killing 179 people.
The Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers and crew, was on a flight from Bangkok when it veered off the runway while landing at around 9am.
The plane hit a concrete barrier and burst into flames, leaving only two survivors. The catastrophic crash shocked the nation, prompting immediate investigations into possible mechanical failures or operational errors.
Air Canada Incident
A PAL Airlines Dash 8-400 skidded to a stop at Halifax Airport today when its landing gear failed during flight AC2259, operating for Air Canada.
The plane scraped its wings along the runway, creating visible sparks and fire during the landing sequence.
The 24-year-old aircraft (registration C-GPNA), equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines, was en route from St. John’s to Halifax when the incident occurred.
A video shows that the wings directly hit the runway surface. Fortunately, all passengers and crew members escaped unharmed from the emergency landing.