By Sudeshna Sarkar. Kathmandu, Nepal, 11:30 AM IST

The celebration of Dashain, Nepal's biggest festival, turned into mourning Wednesday as a helicopter carrying 19 people crashed in the mountainous north, killing all but the pilot.

Twelve German tourists, two Swiss and four Nepalis were among the dead while pilot Surendra Kunwar survived.

The Twin Otter helicopter belonged to private Nepali airline Yeti Airlines. Nepal's aviation authorities said the crash occurred in Lukla in Solukhumbu district around 7.33 a.m., apparently due to a landing error.

By Sudeshna Sarkar (Staff Writer, © IANS)