The 9N-AKF chopper which had flown officials from Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Office to Samdo was about to take off for the district headquarters when a bird hit its tail rotor.

According to Ghanashyam Acharya, official at Simrik Air, the chopper caught fire after the strike and the pilot made an emergency landing. “The pilot’s attempt to douse the fire with a fire extinguisher after landing went in vain,” said Acharya.

All five persons flying on the chopper are safe and have been airlifted to the Capital by a Manang Air helicotper. The chopper has been completely damaged in the incident.