Everest helicopter crash kills two
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The crash is likely to cast a shadow over celebrations marking the first ascent of Everest.
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KATHMANDU, Nepal (CNN) -- A helicopter crash near the Mount Everest base camp in the Himalayas has killed two people and injured six, Nepalese civil aviation authorities say.
The helicopter run by Nepal's Simric Airlines was transporting passengers and cargo to the camp when it came down.
Few other details of the crash were immediately available, but the incident is likely to cast a shadow over Thursday's celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest.
Everest base camp is located at 5,296 meters (17,380 feet) above sea level and is used as the first staging post for climbers ascending the world's tallest peak.
This year a record number of climbers are traveling to the area hoping to follow in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay 50 years ago.
Since the two first conquered Everest on May 29, 1953, it has been climbed by more than 1,300 people.
About 175 climbers have died on its unpredictable slopes.
