A Mountain Air chopper that had reached JuBing in Solukhumbu to airlift a patient crashed while attempting to make a forced landing after an engine problem on Sunday morning. All five persons on board survived.

Lukla Office of Civil Aviation Authority said Pilot SurajThapa had to forced land the chopper in a paddy field moments after the lift-off. The front section of the aircraft was damaged in the process. A second helicopter had to be called in to transport the passengers and pilot of the Mountain Air chopper to Lukla Airport after the incident.