KATHMANDU: At least three people were killed when a Summit Air 9N AMH (L410) plane collided with a parked (Manang Air) helicopter while taking off for Ramechhap at Lukla airport this morning.

According to Suman Pandey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Fish Tail Air, the incident occurred at around 9:10 am at Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, a major gateway to Mt Everest.

At least three persons including Manang Air (9N- ALC) Pilot CB Gurung have been injured in the incident.

“All injured have been airlifted to Kathmandu and they are undergoing treatment at Grande Hospital,” Pandey added.

The deceased include Summit Air's co-pilot Sujit Dhungana and Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Ram Bahadur Khadka who was stationed in Lukla for airport security, airport officials at Lukla said.

According to sources, at Grande Hospital, Sub-Inspector of Nepal Police Rudra Bahadur Shrestha who was seriously injured, breathed his last while undergoing treatment.

The airport has been closed following the incident.