An Indian tourist was killed and three others injured after two helicopters operated by Air Dynasty and Fishtail Air collided while attempting to land at Pheriche in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district on Tuesday morning.
The collision occurred at around 8.11am at Pheriche, in Ward 4 of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, according to the District Police Office. The number of passengers aboard the two aircraft at the time of the accident has not yet been confirmed.
The deceased was identified as Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramadu, an Indian national travelling in the Fishtail Air helicopter, Inspector Mausam Tamang said, according to The Kathmandu Post. His body was taken to a hospital in Lukla.
Shailesh Krishna Patel, a New Zealand citizen of Indian origin who was also aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter, sustained injuries. He was airlifted to Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu in a Prabhu Air helicopter, Tamang said.
Both pilots suffered minor injuries and were taken to Kathmandu for further treatment.
Collision during landing near Mount Everest
The two helicopters collided as they were landing at Pheriche, a high-altitude settlement in the Everest region. The village is situated at around 4,200 metres above sea level and serves as an important stop for trekkers heading towards Everest Base Camp.
Nabin Raja Budhathoki, in charge of Solukhumbu District Police, confirmed the fatality and said another injured foreign national had been taken to hospital.
"One foreigner is dead on the spot, and another injured person has been taken to the hospital," he told AFP.
Authorities have yet to establish the circumstances that led to the collision or confirm the total number of people travelling in the two helicopters.
Helicopters serve busy trekking region
Pheriche lies below Mount Everest Base Camp and is among the settlements where helicopters play an important role in transporting trekkers, guides and climbers. With no road access to much of the Everest region, aircraft are frequently used to evacuate people who fall ill or become exhausted during high-altitude treks.
The accident occurred during Nepal’s busy autumn trekking season. Recent heavy snowfall had covered parts of the route, although improving weather since Sunday had allowed thousands of trekkers to resume their journeys.
The collision adds to concerns over aviation safety in Nepal’s mountainous tourism regions, where helicopters are regularly used for passenger transport, sightseeing and emergency evacuations.