Nepal resumes rescue helicopter flights to Mount Everest amid local protests

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 early January, the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) suspended all flights after protesters blocked landing sites with flags and warned pilots they would have to return on foot if they landed.

Commercial flights to the Everest region are still restricted, but rescue flights have resumed on humanitarian grounds, according to AOAN official Pratap Jung Pandey, who made the announcement on January 27.

To find a solution, local communities and aviation officials are currently negotiating.