Kathmandu: Five people were killed when an Air Dynasty helicopter crashed in the Shivapuri area of Nuwakot district around noon today. Among the deceased were four men and one woman, according to the police.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Shantiraj Koirala from the District Police Office in Nuwakot confirmed that the helicopter crashed in the Suryachaur area of Shivapuri Forest. "Some security personnel and locals have already reached the crash site. They are currently working to douse the fire caused by the helicopter crash," SP Koirala stated. More details on the accident are awaited.

The helicopter, with the call sign 9 N-AJD, had taken off from Nalinchowk in Bhaktapur district heading for Syaphrubeshi in Rasuwa district at 1:54 pm. The crash occurred at 2:14 pm, just three minutes after takeoff, according to Gyanendra Bhul, Information Officer at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

Among the five victims were four Chinese nationals—Tang Jutao, Wu Yiyao, Li Jie, and Xie Zeming—and the Nepali pilot, Arun Malla. The bodies have been transported to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj for postmortem examinations.

In response to the tragedy, the government has formed a three-member probe commission to investigate the crash. The commission, headed by Subas Thapa, a senior pilot in the Nepali Army, includes aeronautical engineer Bishnu Basnet and Tanuja Pokharel, Under-Secretary (Technical) at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation. They have been tasked with submitting a report within 30 days.

The government expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, extended tribute to those killed in the incident and assured a thorough investigation.

The Armed Police Force (APF) deployed 66 security personnel to the crash site for search and rescue operations. Additionally, a private helicopter has been sent to assist in the efforts.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed deep sorrow over the crash. He cut short a pre-scheduled meeting with the Kathmandu Valley Mayors' Forum upon learning of the incident, noting the grief of another air disaster just 14 days after the crash of a Saurya Airlines plane.