HOME       Contact Us      Hire Us       Domestic Airlines        Railway Enquiry     Railway Booking     Hotels & Flights Abroad
NEIGHBOURS CALLING:      Dubai      Malaysia     Nepal     Bhutan
indiatraveltimes.com
US military plane carrying illegal Indian immigrants landing at Amritsar || Trump proposes to take over Gaza, threatens to annihilate Iran || US pauses tariff on Canada, Mexico || China counters US tariff with 5% more || Muslim spiritual leader Aga Khan dies at 88 || Will Kash Patel's amorous manoeuvres threaten US security? || - India Travel Times.Com   [Estd: 1998]       * * *    Travel, More Travel, Travel Means A Million Things     * * *    
Five Mexican tourists, pilot killed in helicopter crash in Nepal: What went wrong!

  • Experts blame violation of the Visual Flying Rules (VFR) for most of the chopper crashes in the mountains as the leading cause. VFR means fly only visually - because of the lack of navigation aids in remote areas or unreliability of GPS-like aids in hilly terrains or a remote manipulation of instruments in cases of sabotage - as the topography plays havoc especially in the monsoon (mid-June to September).
  • Even when VFR is followed, most crashes occur due to CFIT (Controlled Flight into Terrain) - that is, everything else is OK but the aircraft collides with hills or trees hidden by the clouds. This also occurs mostly in the monsoon.
  • On Tueday with Manang, the chopper was brand new, pilot was highly experienced. But it hit an 'invisible' tree and then crashed against a hillside. This CFIT occurred when the pilot tried to dodge patches of clouds even as he was following the VFR.
  • Simply put, everyone knows flying in the hills during the monsoon is risky, but the companies want to make more money in any which case. This type of tragedy is very frequently invited in the Indian hill State of Uttarakhand as well, where pilots are even made to fly without the mandatory rest.

KATHMANDU, July 12: All five Mexican tourists and the pilot aboard an Airbus H125 helicopter of Manang Air were killed on Tuesday when the chopper crashed minutes after takeoff from the foothills of the Everest for Kathmandu in poor weather conditions. All the bodies have been recovered.

The pilot was a Nepali. The Mexicans were two men and three women of same family (father, mother, son and two daughters). One of them was a doctor, Dr (Ms) Abril Sifuentes González, at Mexico's National Cancer Institute. The family was on a tour of Nepal after a round of some of India's tourist destinations, it is reported.

After the helicopter tour of the Everest, the tallest peak in the world at 8,848.86 metres, lasting one hour, they were returning to Kathmandu. They had booked the helicopter tour at the most unsuitable time - the monsoon. Flights are risky in the treacherous weather. Climbers also do not venture, it is slippery.

The chopper took off from Lukla, the famous base point for Everest climbing expeditions, and landed at Surke nearby for refueling. (Surke is an alternative landing site for helicopters in poor weather, 6 minutes flying time below Lukla airfield). From Surke the helicopter took off at 10:05 am (local time). At 10:13 it lost contact with Lukla airport, according to a statement issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

It took five hours for rescuers to locate the site. It is believed the chopper hit a hillside in poor visibility. It was raining even when the rescuers reached there. The wreckage was found in Likhupike Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu district. Local people said it crashed with a loud explosion and they saw a huge fire at the site.

The dead have been identified as 1. CAPT. C.B. Gurung (Pilot) Nepali 2. Sifuentes G. Ferrando - Mexican 3. Gonzalez Abric - Mexican 4. Gonzalez Olacio Luz - Mexican 5. Sifuentes G. Maria Jose - Mexican 6. Rincon Ismael Mexican.

It is said in Nepal that flight route changes are common because of frequent variations in weather conditions around the Everest. So did the Mexicans' chopper. Especially, it rains heavily during this time of the year in the Indian plains and the Himalayas due to the south-west monsoon. Visibility can suddenly turn very poor due to unpredictable weather conditions. Mid-June onwards is always a monster season for tourism in the hills. And flying in Nepal is visual, without aids available in remote and inaccessible mountainous terrain. Also it is advised like that.

It was officially stated that Manang Air helicopter 9N-AMV (AS350) which went missing in the morning at 10:13 local time was found crashed in Likhupike, in Solukhumbu district, Ward No. 5, near Lampura Pass.

Two rescue helicopters brought the bodies to Kathmandu. They are expected to be handed over to the Mexican embassy after autopsy.

The helicopter, now named Airbus Helicopters H125, was manufactured in France. Acquired in 2018.

The crash has been described technically as "controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)", which means that the aircraft was airworthy and under control of the pilot, but hits the ground and the pilot is unaware until it is too late. “The helicopter initially hit the top of a tree and then hit the sloppy ridge with a huge impact between two passes in a dense forest,” Manang Air was quoted in reports. But the CFIT happened as the pilot would have tried to dodge the cloud patches. The last contact was when it was over Lamjura Pass.

Air accidents are very common in Nepal, especially of choppers as the companies undertake trips off-season to enhance their profits, ignoring the topography and weather conditions. And, there is not much sightseeing possible without choppers!

In January this year, a Yeti airlines plane crash killed 71 people in Pokhara. On May 29, 2022, Tara Air Flight 197 crashed in Jomsom, killing all 22 people on board.

There have been 941 fatalities in 73 air crashes in Nepal since 1962.


SELECTIONS FROM OUR ARCHIVES

A PROGNOSIS: Much maligned over old age and gaffes (or allowed to be !), Biden (81) leaving the scene has made Trump (78) the old man in the field! Now on a weak wicket, having forced to change his target mid-stream and rearrange his campaign strategy, the 'rogue' behind the Capitol rampage will be asked by a woman opponent, how old are you? Additionally, the sharpshooting prosecutor will be converting the hustings into a trial court for a decisive onslaught where the convicted felon will finally succumb.

OPINION: Quotas, permanent Government jobs, pay scales and tons of allowances and more than matching pensions are the 'gifts' of wretched vote bank politics in developing societies masquerading as a type of nascent democracy. Depressing poverty and painful migrations are the byproducts. The reality is: There can't be permanent jobs because demand for work is a 'variable'. And quota is its offspring. The agenda of creating jobs and quotas is therefore poor economics, with far-reaching social impacts, but of course serves those politicians in the short term.

ANALYSIS: A pious Catholic and a gentleman (in contrast to the savage-looking felon), Biden is the most experienced politician that he doesn't look. Of Irish descent, he has been around the Capitol Hill and the White House for over five decades, quietly observing people and events. With his rich experience and insight, understanding Biden and what he does now will be possible only retrospectively, may be a year later!! Therefore not many Americans can see that for some time now he has been preparing his 'favourite child' to take on his mantle.

At the end of it all what will stand is what Nikki Haley said on X, "Mark my words... Biden will not be the Democratic nominee. Republicans, get your guard up!"

If and when he withdraws from contest, he must quit White House as well. Why?

OPPOSITION WAKES UP ! The Opposition accused the Prime Minister, who seems to insist he alone will inaugurate everything in the country, of "hurriedly inaugurating" an "incomplete terminal" in March last for publicity on the eve of the general elections. At that time he had also laid the foundation stone for 15 other airport projects across the country. He was also accused of inaugurating an incomplete Ram temple in Ayodhya in January which started leaking in the first downpour last weekend.

It is also puzzling why every few years airport buildings are demolished in Delhi and new plans are made for new constructions and nobody seems to take notice! (Because the airport itself is tucked away in a far corner, not easily accessible to the discerning, with a web of roads going only round and round like a tape around a spool, as if not reaching anywhere!)

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi Government of "corruption and criminal negligence" in the name of infrastructure projects (launched every other day) in the last 10 years. Kharge also said Modi has been keen on indulging in ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale asked, "Why shouldn't PM Modi be charged with culpable homicide?"

COMMENT: A simple question but difficult to understand is why the people should be concerned about whether an NTA director is sacked for paper leakage or a DGP is removed for law and order breakdown. The people have nothing to do with the elite appointments nor their conduct. They are the cousin-brothers of the political dispensation. If not barred by fixation, kindly take a look at other countries!

“What I want to do and what I will do is, you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma (two-year programs or doctoral degrees) a green card to be able to stay in this country” permanently, the presidential candidate said. Asked if he would promise to allow the “best and the brightest around the world to (come to) America,” Trump firmly replied: “I do promise.”

COMMENT: Could Biden visualise a better immigration formula to build a still stronger America? Will Kamala Harris, in charge of migration, and struggling for ideas, take note?

Delhi has recorded the hottest night (35+ deg C), unheard of since the beginning of time! For 30 consecutive days the maximum temp is above 40 deg C and in the nights too the mercury stayed high as there is hardly any earth around to absorb and dissipate the day's heat. Add on to the nightmare the acute water shortage in the national Capital due to the power-hungry, low-grade politicians squabbling for one-upmanship. More than 200 people died in Delhi-NCR in the past two days. Most of them are poor people, labourers, the homeless, beggars.

An anatomy of NEET 2024: From the start till finish NEET will stay put as a conundrum jinxed as it is. What if it was thought angels would come down from the heaven to conduct the entrance exam if done at the Centre and if in the States, they would be conducted by the corrupt mortals. So NEET was born... It's 'guaranteed' that no party will ever be able to do what is required to be done in the country. Because of their genetics. Frauds will only multiply. Is there anything worse? Yes. Shoot the messenger!

A video shows the terrifying scene of the chopper swirling and dropping nose down mid-air around the helipad. In fact, the rear rotor had gone for a toss and the pilot was performing autorotation for a crash-landing. He pulled it off! Congrats!

True or false, Savitri claimed her husband had told her to throw Vinod into the canal as all that he does is eat. "How much torture can my son endure?" She picked him up when he was asleep.

Marking a decisive stage in the ongoing tussle between Governors and the Governments in some States, the Governor of Bengal has thrown down the gauntlet to the State police, asking the Raj Bhavan staff to refuse any enquiry from the cops in the sexual harassment case filed by a woman employee against him.

COMMENT: In many a case complaints can be frivolous, made under certain circumstances. So it is more in the interest of the accused that there is an investigation to clear his name. Denial may only mean acceptance of the guilt. Besides, quoting Constitutional immunity in sexual harassment cases is nothing short of a vulgarity of the feudal landlord. Nobody is above the law.

While the universal apprentice scheme will enable the educated youth to stand up (literally) in a country where the people are trampled by wretched politicians, and look about for avenues to earn a living confidently, the provision of student credit cards of up to Rs 10 lakh will ensure each and every student of this country receives equal opportunities to fulfil their aspirations of higher education irrespective of their financial conditions. It will be a game changer. These are on the lines of what US Vice-President Kamala Harris visualised to be happening to the Third World when she hailed Ajay Banga as a transformative World Bank President.

Peter Higgs is the father of the mysterious Higgs boson, otherwise called 'God Particle', which gives mass to all elementary particles, and created our universe. His contribution helped other scientists understand how the Big Bang created something out of nothing 13.8 billion years ago. The equations of particle physicists which did not have a leg to stand on till then, the 'God Particle' came as a Godsend. The theories so far to describe the universe did not hold water.

It was only by 2012, after 50 years of the boson discovery, that scientists at CERN could make the big announcement that they had finally found a Higgs boson using the Large Hadron Collider.

Higgs instantly broke into tears, tears of profound satisfaction, in the lecture hall where the announcement was made.

LEGAL REMEDIES: Last year, on the directive of the Supreme Court, the Governor granted assent to one Bill, and referred seven Bills to the President. The petition against the President also challenges the Governor's action of referring the Bills to her.

The unprecedented step by the State may also establish that it always upholds the Constitution and the rule of law in order to pre-empt any eventuality of getting dismissed on flimsy grounds invoking provisions of the Constitution later on; and, also provide a thrust to an emerging platform of regional forces pitted against the ongoing centralisation of every subject and activity in the country under one umbrella where the States will ultimately 'wither' away (for some time).

OPINION: Made to happen as it does just weeks ahead of the general elections, the arrest may signal, if not the cause of, far-reaching consequences in the course of Indian politics. The Opposition charges that the ruling party at the Centre has unleashed the police to catch a leader every other day for corruption allegedly indulged in in the present or the remote past in order to incapacitate any concerted opposition to the ruling dispensation.

The “My way or the highway" man, Trump has predicted 'apocalypse' for Americans if he is not elected the President in the upcoming election. He sounds “extremism, affection for violence." As always, he is also seeing what others don't, and repetitively using words like "(2020) election was stolen"! And that's a symptom! Delivering a no-holds-barred speech at a rally in Ohio, he also predicted the US won't see another election if he did not win the November battle against the incumbent President. With his savage push against the God-fearing Catholic, and the heap of criminal cases pending in the courts, the unpredictable Trump's nomination exposes a season of drought of leadership of calibre in the United States.

The much-touted 'one-nation, one-election' argument was purportedly to prevent wasteful expenditure of the people's money, manpower and deceleration of development, but the committee report when implemented will end up paving the way for holding more elections than currently being held. Because of the logistics and democratic limitations involved, the committee was not expected by commonsense to be out of a loose end either! Those who are alive at that time, and further for ten more years thereafter, can count the rounds and compare with the present numbers. Therefore, either the agenda is different or the 8-volume presentation is faulty/made-up!!!

The manager has defended himself saying that dry ice got mixed with mouth freshener by the negligence of the staff...After taking the mouth freshener the customers felt a burning sensation and started vomiting blood. Five of them were hospitalised. Two are in critical condition.

Harmful effects of dry ice: Ingested, dry ice can burn your mouth, esophagus and stomach as it sublimates on contact with the moisture of the organs and turns into CO2, apart from other damaging physical and chemical changes it induces. The pressure building up in the stomach due to sublimation can also rupture the stomach muscles. It turns lethal. In normal direct handling it leads to frostbite due to the cold temperature.

One of them is seen in CCTV being shot at close range. The motive is suspected to be personal enmity.

TAILPIECE: Almost every other day we hear of shootings in one place or other in the country. India will very soon replace the US as the world's No 1 in the incidence of mass shooting. It will eclipse terrorism as a source of concern. Who can help? At least, has it occurred to anyone's mind?

'This Moment' of Shakti fusion won the Best Global Music Album at the Grammys. Zakir Hussain has won two other awards too. In a great victory for Indians, five of them have won the Grammys this time. In other sections, Taylor Swift got her fourth Album of the Year award and Miley Cyrus got an award for the first time.

Previous Files
ARCHIVES


Neighbours
Calling

Bhutan
Nepal
Malaysia
Dubai

Maha Kumbh Mela: Millions of pilgrims take holy dip at Triveni Sangam in Prayag on Vasant Panchami
Veteran Malayalam playback singer P Jayachandran passes away at 80 after prolonged illness
Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple opens for annual Mandala, Makaravilakku pilgrimage festivals
PM inaugurates RJ Sankara Eye Hospital in Varanasi
Swaminarayan temple in New York's Melville vandalised
10-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations end with idol immersion
Ayodhya celebrates first Ram Navami at Ram temple after 500 years
Spiritual leader Sadhguru undergoes emergency brain operation for bleeding in Delhi hospital
Tens of thousands of women celebrate Pongala festival at Attukal temple in Thiruvananthapuram
Jain monk Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj attains samadhi after 'sallekhana' at Chandragiri Teerth

Fashion & Lifestyle
Cuisines
Yoga & Asanas
Fairs, Festivals & Melas
Religion & Cult
Pilgrimage
Art & Culture
History, Legends & Mythology
Ayurveda
Free Ayurveda Consultation
ARCHIVES
A Window On India
Fashion & Lifestyle
Yoga & Asanas
Fairs, Festivals & Melas
Religion & Cult
Pilgrimage
Art & Culture
History, Legends & Mythology
Ayurveda
News (Archives)
Travel News
Travel News Archives
Travel News Index




Custom Search