A rescue helicopter deployed to pick up stranded trekkers has crash-landed near Lobuche Mountain in Nepal’s Mount Everest region, according to a senior police official.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Manojit Kunwar, Chief of Solukhumbu District Police, confirmed that the Altitude Air helicopter skidded while landing at a helipad in Lobuche at approximately 7:50 a.m. on Wednesday.

“The pilot, who was the only person on board, was rescued and taken to Lukla Airport,” said DSP Kunwar. “The helicopter suffered partial damage to its tail and remains at the accident site.”

Lobuche Mountain, featuring two prominent peaks — Lobuche East (6,119 meters) and Lobuche West (6,145 meters) — is a popular acclimatization site for mountaineers preparing to summit Mount Everest (8,848.86 meters), the tallest mountain in the world.

October marks one of Nepal’s busiest trekking seasons, with hundreds of climbers passing through the Everest route each week. As of Tuesday evening, authorities reported over 210 trekkers stationed at Lobuche Base Camp.

In recent days, Nepali authorities have issued weather warnings linked to Cyclone Mountha, which originated in the Bay of Bengal and brought heavy snowfall across the Himalayan region. Despite earlier adverse weather, conditions were reported as clear at the time of the crash, according to officials.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has forecast snowfall and rainfall from October 30 to November 1, urging residents and visitors to remain cautious while traveling in mountainous and hilly areas.

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has also issued an advisory for trekkers and climbers to take extreme care due to the high risk of weather disruptions.Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN)