KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 30

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has issued a safety recommendation circular to all helicopter operators following Wednesday's crash involving an Altitude Air helicopter in Lobuche, near the Everest region.

The Airbus B3 helicopter (registration 9N-AMS), piloted by instructor Captain Bibek Khadka, had crash-landed while attempting to touch down at Lobuche on October 29. The pilot escaped without injuries, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage. A Kailash Helicopter was later dispatched for rescue operations, according to Altitude Air Chair Nima Nuru Sherpa.

In response to the incident, CAAN held discussions with Altitude Air representatives and helicopter pilots of various companies on Thursday at the CAAN Head Office, Sinamangal and subsequently issued Circular 12/2025, mandating stricter safety measures for winter and high-altitude operations.

According to the circular, no flight operations will be permitted under whiteout or foggy conditions for commercial flights. Helicopters operating in snowy areas must be equipped with bear paws on their skids during the winter season.

CAAN has also directed that marshallers be allocated for all flights as much as possible to ensure safety and proper ground coordination wehre frequent operations are conducted at high altitude. Additionally, all snow-covered helipads must be cleared of snow and foreign object debris (FOD) before any flight operations, including the helipad circumference area.

The authority emphasized that the new safety directives apply to all helicopter companies, including Air Dynasty, Manang Air, Kailash Helicopters, Shree Airlines, and others operating from Sinamangal and Tinkune.

Officials said these measures are aimed at minimizing risks as the busy autumn trekking and rescue season continues in the Everest region.