Helicopter flights to Mount Everest region suspended

kathmandu - Helicopter flights to the region of Mount Everest in Nepal have been suspended due to threats and protests from locals.

Helicopter flights to the region of Mount Everest in Nepal have been suspended after threats and protests from locals. The helicopters often make the use of guides in the Sagarmatha National Park, where the mountain is located, unnecessary. A two-week trek with Nepalese guides through the park can be done in a day with a helicopter.

Well-off mountaineers and tourists prefer to use the flights. A trip costs $1000 (almost 960 euros) and saves a lot of travel time in generally inaccessible areas by road.

Angry locals have placed objects on landing strips and threatened pilots who wanted to land. They protest against the loss of livelihood and the alleged environmental damage caused by the helicopters.

Normally, there are about fifteen flights per day to the Sagarmatha National Park in winter and dozens more in the peak summer season.

The national park has also complained about the helicopters. In December, the park threatened to ban joy rides. According to Nepalese authorities, negotiations are underway to resolve the conflict.