KATHMANDU, APRIL 23

An American climber has illegally glided off Mt Everest this morning, sources at the Everest Base Camp said.

Darren John Verploegen from Montana, USA jumped off from Camp II on Mt Everest without having a gliding permit from the Ministry of Tourism.

"Darren John has only obtained a permit to climb Mt Everest," Chhang Dawa Sherpa, Expedition Director at Seven Summit Trek, said, adding that he didn't have any permit to paraglide off Mt Everest Camp II.

The 37-year-old climber was part of a 14-member international Everest expedition, he said.

According to base camp sources, Darren John flew back with a paraglider from Camp II at the base camp.

After landing at the base camp, Darren John reportedly told fellow climbers that he was not aware of any permit to jump off the high camp

"It is illegal to paraglide off Mt Everest without a permit," a DoT source said, adding that Darren John would be barred from climbing in Nepal if found guilty. DoT officials said that no one had obtained a permit to paraglide off mountains till date, this season