In recent years the number of tourists flooding into Nepal has increased significantly.

This has a lot to do with the Himalayas – the mountain range that boasts one of the earth’s highest peaks, Mount Everest.

Climbing Everest is pretty dangerous, but that’s not the only danger to look out for.

Lukla Airport in Nepal has been called one of the most dangerous in the world.

Something that was proven yet again when a plane veered off the runway and hit a stationary helicopter at the main gateway to the Everest region, killing three people.

The pilot and two police officers who were standing close to the helicopter are among the dead.

Here’s the BBC:

The plane veered off the runway and hit a stationary helicopter at Lukla Airport, the main gateway to the Everest region.

The reason for Saturday’s accident is not clear. Officials said the weather was good and flights later resumed their operations.

Eyewitness Bikram Raj Bhandari told the BBC: “I heard an explosion from some distance and ran towards the airport to see what had happened. There was smoke all around.”

The reason for the crash is unclear as the weather was good and flights later resumed operations.

In 2008, 18 people, including 12 Germans, were killed when a plane tried to land there. Two pilots died in similar circumstances less than two years ago.

One runway rests on the edge of a cliff with a 700m drop and the airport is often closed because of strong winds or heavy clouds.

Only experienced pilots are allowed to land at Lukla. They must have made at least 100 landings and takeoffs on short runways and worked in such conditions for at least a year in Nepal.

If I ever get over my fear of heights and decide to climb Everest, show me this article.

[source:bbc]