A senior pilot was injured when a Manang Air chopper crashed as it was trying to land at Lobuche of Solukhumbu on Saturday.

The chopper with a call sign 9N-ANJ was heading towards Lobuche from Lukla to rescue foreign tourists when the incident occurred this morning, it has been learnt.

Critically injured pilot Prakash Sedhai has been airlifted to Hams Hospital of Kathmandu by the Fishtail Air chopper for treatment, Chief District Officer Basanta Bhattarai said.

Pilot Sedhai was the only person onboard the chopper.

According to an eyewitness, Mingmar Nuru Sherpa, the incident occurred at the helipad of Lobuche at around 7:30 am.

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-4 ward Chairman Laxman Adhikari said that the chopper may have crashed while landing at the helipad situated at an altitude of 4, 900 meters.

The chopper caught fire after the crash.