Nepal resumes rescue helicopter flights to Mount Everest amid local protests
Mar 11, 2025, 04:45 IST
Nepali airlines have resumed helicopter rescue operations in the Everest region after weeks of suspension due to protests by local communities. The flights, crucial for emergency rescues in the mountainous region, were halted after locals blocked landing sites, citing concerns over environmental impact and lost income from trekkers.
Helicopters serve as a vital form of transportation here, since most of the hilly and isolated areas of Nepal don't have access to roads. However, the use of helicopters by mountaineering teams and tourists over challenging terrain in the Sagarmatha National Park, for a shortcut, has raised concern Also, although helicopters are essential for emergency evacuations, they are also commonly used to carry wealthy tourists and mountaineering teams, to avoid the difficult two-week walk to Everest Base Camp, which costs a whopping $1,000. This practice deprives local businesses and guides of a vital revenue stream that comes from trekkers spending days in villages along the traditional overland route.
In January 2025, Nepal's Airlines Operators Association (AOAN) suspended all helicopter flights to the Everest region due to escalating tensions with local communities. Residents expressed concerns over environmental degradation and economic losses attributed to the increasing number of helicopter flights. Locals erected barriers at landing sites and cautioned pilots against landing, highlighting the environmental impact and the reduction in income for those relying on traditional trekking routes.
Helicopters play a crucial role in Nepal's mountainous regions, facilitating both transportation and emergency rescues. However, their use has expanded to include airlifting tourists over challenging terrains in Sagarmatha National Park, home to Mount Everest. While a helicopter ride costing approximately $1,000 can shorten the two-week trek to Everest Base Camp to a single day, it diminishes the earnings of locals who depend on supporting traditional trekking activities.
Following negotiations, the AOAN announced the resumption of rescue helicopter flights on humanitarian grounds in late January 2025. Pratap Jung Pandey, an AOAN official, stated that while rescue operations had recommenced, commercial flights remained suspended pending further discussions with local communities.
The Everest region attracts over 50,000 tourists annually, with helicopter flights averaging 15 per day during winter and increasing to 60 daily during peak tourist seasons. The ongoing dialogue between aviation authorities and local communities aims to balance the economic benefits of tourism with environmental preservation and the livelihoods of residents.
This situation underscores the complexities of managing tourism in ecologically sensitive areas and the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and local populations.