A PRELIMINARY Nepalese investigation has blamed bad weather and pilot error for a helicopter crash in which a cabinet minister and 23 others, including an Australian, were killed.
Among the dead was Australian Jill Bowling, 49, a director of conservation group WWF-UK.
Civil Aviation Minister Pradeep Gyawali said the report maintained the pilot was flying too low in mountains despite bad conditions that should have prompted him to fly higher where it would have been safer.
Mr Gyawali said the pilot was trying to manoeuvre between mountains in poor visibility due to fog and rain.
The Russian-built MI-17 helicopter chartered by WWF crashed about 400 kilometres east of Kathmandu on September 23.
Those who died included Nepalese Forest Minister Gopal Rai, Finnish embassy charge d'affaires Pauli Mustonen and USAID deputy director in Nepal Margaret Alexander.
WWF said seven of its employees were among the victims — Ms Bowling, a Canadian, an American and four Nepalese. The victims also included Nepalese journalists, government officials and four crew members — two Russians and two Nepalese.
Ms Bowling lived in Switzerland with husband Rodolphe Schlaepfer and worked in Britain.
A full report on the investigation into the crash is expected in a few weeks.
The wreckage was found two days after the crash in barely accessible terrain that made recovery operations difficult.
The downed helicopter left Ghunsa village, where the passengers had visited a WWF project, but failed to arrive at Suketar village, its intended destination, a 20-minute flight away.
Among the dead was Australian Jill Bowling, 49, a director of conservation group WWF-UK.
Civil Aviation Minister Pradeep Gyawali said the report maintained the pilot was flying too low in mountains despite bad conditions that should have prompted him to fly higher where it would have been safer.
Mr Gyawali said the pilot was trying to manoeuvre between mountains in poor visibility due to fog and rain.
The Russian-built MI-17 helicopter chartered by WWF crashed about 400 kilometres east of Kathmandu on September 23.
Those who died included Nepalese Forest Minister Gopal Rai, Finnish embassy charge d'affaires Pauli Mustonen and USAID deputy director in Nepal Margaret Alexander.
WWF said seven of its employees were among the victims — Ms Bowling, a Canadian, an American and four Nepalese. The victims also included Nepalese journalists, government officials and four crew members — two Russians and two Nepalese.
Ms Bowling lived in Switzerland with husband Rodolphe Schlaepfer and worked in Britain.
A full report on the investigation into the crash is expected in a few weeks.
The wreckage was found two days after the crash in barely accessible terrain that made recovery operations difficult.
The downed helicopter left Ghunsa village, where the passengers had visited a WWF project, but failed to arrive at Suketar village, its intended destination, a 20-minute flight away.
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