Helicopter Crashes While Landing in Eastern Nepal, One Injured
Air Dynasty aircraft carrying deceased person overshoots field in Khotang; pilot and five others safe
KATHMANDU, Nepal — March 18, 2026 — A helicopter belonging to Air Dynasty crashed while attempting to land in a field in eastern Nepal’s Khotang District on Wednesday, leaving one passenger injured, officials confirmed .
The helicopter, with registration number 9N-ASQ, was carrying a deceased body from Kathmandu and crashed while landing at approximately 11:51 a.m. local time in a farmland area of Kepilasgadhi Rural Municipality-2, according to Rekha Kandel, Chief District Officer of Khotang District .
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Six people, including pilot Sabin Thapa, were on board the aircraft at the time of the accident. One passenger, identified as Kaji Bahadur Rai, sustained injuries and was rescued from the site .
No Fatalities Reported
Despite the crash, authorities confirmed there were no human casualties. “The helicopter crashed while landing in the farmland. It was carrying a dead body and had flown in from Kathmandu. No human casualties has been recorded,” Kandel told ANI .
The helicopter company dispatched another aircraft with registration number 9N-ANA for the rescue of the injured passenger .
Police officials provided additional details about the sequence of the accident. Deputy Superintendent of Police Prakash Budhathoki said the helicopter initially landed at the edge of the field and crashed when it was lifted again to reposition it to the middle .
Preliminary Investigation Findings
According to preliminary investigations, the helicopter may have crashed due to high winds or dust accumulated during landing, the helicopter company stated .
Air Dynasty confirmed that five passengers were on board the helicopter when it departed from Kathmandu for the district .
Aviation Safety Context
Nepal has a challenging aviation environment, with some of the world’s most remote and difficult runways, flanked by snow-capped peaks with approaches that pose challenges even for accomplished pilots. Weather conditions can change quickly in the mountains, creating treacherous flying situations .
The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace over safety concerns related to insufficient training and maintenance, issues compounded by the country’s treacherous geography .
The March 18 incident follows a separate fatal helicopter crash on March 10 in which all six people aboard a tourist helicopter were killed when it crashed soon after take-off near Mount Everest . Earlier this month, on March 2, a Saurya Airlines plane crashed during a test flight in Kathmandu, killing most of the 19 people on board .
Recovery and Investigation
Authorities are preparing to airlift the injured passenger to Kathmandu for further treatment. The District Police Office Khotang continues its investigation into the exact circumstances of the crash .
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Further details regarding the incident are expected as investigators complete their on-site assessment .
SOURCES / INPUTS
The Hindu: Helicopter crashes while landing in Eastern Nepal while landing, one injured
The Rising Nepal: Helicopter carrying dead body crashes in Khotang
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