Three dead as plane crashes into helicopter near Mount Everest

The Twin Otter plane skidded off runway at what has been called world's most dangerous airport

A small Summit Air airplane crashed into a Manang Air helicopter (Screengrab)

Three people have died in a plane crash near Mount Everest.

A small Twin Otter plane smashed into a parked helicopter during take-off at Tenzing-Hillary Airport, which has been called the world’s most dangerous airport.

The Summit Air plane skidded off the runway and ploughed into the Manang Air helicopter which was stationary on a nearby helipad.

The airport is in the town of Lukla in Nepal.

The three dead were a co-pilot on the plane and two police officers who had been stood close to the scene, police spokesman Uttam Raj Subedi told the Press Association news agency.

Four other people were injured during the incident on Sunday – although it is understood all passengers on board the plane were unharmed.

Both Summit Air and Manang Air run private flights for tourists and Nepalese in the country’s remotest areas.

The airport – often described as the world's most dangerous because of the short runway and difficult approach – is no stranger to tragedy.

In May 2017, a cargo flight was landing there when it lost altitude and crashed into a mountain below the runway, killing both pilots. Poor visibility was blamed for the accident.