Simrik Air carried out a search and recovery mission at the Yalung Ri area by deploying a helicopter on November 7, aimed at locating victims of the avalanche that struck the region on November 3.
The operation, conducted at an altitude of approximately 5,500 meters under extreme environmental and weather conditions, was carried out in coordination with AviA MEA – International Rescue Team, following reports that three foreign climbers and two Nepali guides had gone missing in the incident, reads a statement issued by Simrik Air.
A Simrik Air helicopter, piloted by Capt. Surendra Paudel, with rescue technicians Tshering Pandey Bhote and Uttam Chaudhary, provided crucial aerial support to an international rescue team led by Capt. Manuel Munari, Michele Cucchi, and Bruno Jelk.
Equipped with the RECCO search device, the crew assisted in the high-altitude recovery mission at Yalung Ri, which also included four IFMGA/NNMGA Sherpa guides, who played a crucial role in the ground operations, according to the statement.
The aerial search mission was carried out throughout November 7 and 8, concluding officially in the afternoon of November 8.
According to experts, the mission is believed to be the first high-altitude operation utilizing the RECCO SAR device.
The team maintained coordination with support personnel in Kathmandu, Italy, and Switzerland ensuring seamless communication for operational updates and weather monitoring.
Multiple reconnaissance and search flights were conducted using both the RECCO SAR aerial system and the RECCO R9 ground search system.
This coordinated response was made possible through the joint efforts of Simrik Air (aerial transport and search operations), Heli Everest (support logistics and material transport), AviA MEA International Rescue Team, and the local IFMGA/NNMGA Sherpa guides, whose professionalism and courage were instrumental throughout the mission, the statement further reads. The operation was further supported by Earth C-Air (Switzerland), RECCO AB (Sweden), and Asian Trekking (Nepal).
Simrik Air has been collaborating with these organizations for several years to carry out critical high-altitude search, rescue, and recovery missions across Nepal’s challenging mountain terrain.
