KATHMANDU, JULY 11

A Manang Air helicopter has gone missing shortly after takeoff from Surke Airport today morning.

The chopper (9N-AMV) departed Surke Airport at precisely 10:04 am for Kathmandu. However, it suddenly lost contact at an altitude above 12,000 feet at 10:13 am, informed Gyanendra Bhul, Manager at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

In a bid to locate the missing aircraft, an Altitude helicopter has been dispatched on a search and rescue mission. The GPS tracking system installed in the chopper is being closely monitored to pinpoint its exact location. Currently, the last known GPS coordinates indicate that the helicopter disappeared somewhere near the Lamjura Pass, informed manager Bhul.

The passengers on board the helicopter are reported to be five Mexican nationals, whose identities have yet to be disclosed and pilot senior Captain Chet B Gurung.