Nepal resumes helicopter rescue flights to Mount Everest despite local protests.

Nepali airlines have resumed helicopter rescue operations in the Everest region after a suspension lasting several weeks, which was triggered by protests from local communities. These helicopter flights are vital for emergency rescues in the mountainous area but were halted when locals blocked landing sites, voicing concerns over environmental damage and a potential loss of income from trekkers.

Helicopters play a critical role in the region’s transportation system, as many of Nepal's remote and mountainous areas lack roads. However, the use of helicopters by mountaineering teams and tourists to bypass the difficult terrain of Sagarmatha National Park has raised concerns. While helicopters are essential for emergency evacuations, they are increasingly being used by wealthy tourists and mountaineering groups to skip the challenging two-week trek to Everest Base Camp, a journey that costs about $1,000. This practice is hurting local businesses and guides, who rely on trekkers spending several days in villages along the overland route.

The disruption began in early January when the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) suspended all flights after protests erupted. Locals blocked landing sites with flags and threatened that pilots would be forced to walk if they attempted to land. Although commercial flights to the Everest region remain restricted, rescue operations resumed on January 27 for humanitarian reasons, according to AOAN official Pratap Jung Pandey. Ongoing negotiations between local communities and aviation authorities aim to resolve the conflict.

The suspension of rescue flights significantly impacted mountaineering activities in the region. Every year, over 50,000 people visit the Everest area, and during peak trekking seasons, as many as 60 helicopter flights take place daily. Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, who runs the climbing business Imagine Nepal, emphasized that helicopters are crucial to ensuring climbers' safety. The absence of rescue services recently led German mountaineer Jost Kobusch to abandon his solo winter ascent of Everest. In a January 11 Instagram post, Kobusch cited the lack of emergency evacuation options and earthquake-related risks as his reasons for calling off the attempt.

While the resumption of rescue flights is a positive step, the dispute over commercial helicopter services remains unresolved. As negotiations continue, it is expected that Nepali authorities will work to strike a balance between the needs of the aviation and tourism industries and the economic interests of local communities in the region.