Nepal's first female chopper pilot now commands rescue operations

Nepal’s first female helicopter captain, Priya Adhikari, has flown around 100 rescue missions in less than a week as helicopters race to evacuate survivors from areas devastated by flash floods and landslides.

The 41-year-old high-altitude rescue pilot has been operating over some of the worst-affected parts of the Himalayan region, including Timure in Rasuwa district, where floodwaters and landslides have caused widespread destruction.

As per reports, Adhikari described the operation as one of the most demanding of her career. She said the disaster was in some ways more challenging than Nepal’s 2015 earthquake because much of the destruction was concentrated within a narrow valley.

Adhikari has years of experience flying rescue missions in difficult Himalayan terrain. Her work has included evacuating injured climbers from elevations of about 6,200 meters.

Her path to aviation began in a different field. After studying environmental science and working as cabin crew, she became interested in helicopter flying following a joyride. She later traveled to the Philippines for flight training and became a professional helicopter pilot in 2017.

The current rescue operation has presented pilots with a combination of difficult weather, unstable terrain and intense air traffic. About 20 helicopters have been operating around Timure, with several aircraft sometimes attempting to land in the same confined area.

Adhikari said pilots must remain in constant radio contact to coordinate landings and prevent collisions. Mud left by floods and landslides poses another major hazard, as apparently solid ground may be too unstable to support a helicopter.

In some locations, pilots cannot even switch off their engines after landing because of the unstable surface. Survivors must therefore be loaded quickly before the aircraft takes off again.

More than 200 people were evacuated from Timure during the first two days of the operation. Alongside civilian aircraft, Nepal Army helicopters have also been involved.

Adhikari said the human impact of the disaster has been difficult to process. During flights, she has seen bodies scattered across devastated areas while survivors waited for rescue aircraft.

Despite the exhaustion, she said the pilots remain focused on their training and mission. “We’ve been trained for this,” she said, as per reports, reflecting the determination driving the rescue effort.