Nepal’s Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari has been confirmed dead after a helicopter crash in eastern Nepal.
Adhikari was among seven occupants who died, which included Ang Tshiring Sherpa, the owner of Nepal carrier Yeti Airlines.
Ang Tshiring also founded Dynasty Air, the operator of the ill-fated helicopter.
Two Civil Aviation Authority officials and an aide to Prime Minister K P Oli were also killed.
There were no survivors.
The occupants had earlier visited the proposed site of a new airport.
On their return to Kathmandu the helicopter crashed into a hillside and burst into flames.
According to reports there was poor visibility at the time.
Accident investigators will probe whether the crash was a result of bad weather, pilot error or a possible mechanical failure.
The Himalayan nation has a poor air safety record and helicopter accidents are fairly frequent.
Due to the mountainous terrain, travel by air is the only option in many areas.
Nepal-based airlines are currently banned from flying in European airspace.
Last year a US-Bangla Airways jet crash landed near an airport, killing 51 people.
