Sunday 08 / June / 2025
Muscat: Nepal's Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari died in a helicopter crash, authorities in the Himalayan country confirmed.
The minister was aboard an Air Dynasty helicopter alongside six other passengers. According to Nepal Police, the crash occurred in the country's Taplejung district.
In a statement, the police said, "Seven people including Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday."
According to the police, the other victims included the pilot Captain Prabhakar KC, tourism entrepreneur and Yeti Airlines Managing Director Ang Tshiring Sherpa, security personnel Arjun Ghimire, Under-Secretary at the Prime Minister’s office Yubaraj Dahal, Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Birendra Shrestha, and CAAN Engineer Dhruba Das Bhochhibhaya.
Minister Adhikari and his team were on a visit to a domestic airport.
In a statement Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Foreign Minister Pradeep K. Gyawali is deeply aggrieved by the news of helicopter crash involving Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari and other passengers onboard and has expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased."
The World Tourism Organisation said, "We are very saddened and express our deepest condolences to Nepal's Ministry of Tourism for the loss of life that included Tourism Minister, H.E. Mr. Rabindra Adhikari and others in a crash in Taplejung."
