Two helicopters collided near Mount Everest on Tuesday morning, killing an Indian tourist and injuring a visitor from New Zealand and two pilots, Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority said. The aircraft were attempting to land near Pheriche in the Solukhumbu district at around 8 a.m., according to the authority’s statement.
Pheriche, at an altitude of about 13,900 feet, lies along the Everest Base Camp trekking route. Video of the crash appeared to show the lower helicopter’s rotor blades striking the other aircraft before both helicopters fell to the ground nearby.
Nepali authorities identified the person who died as Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramadu, 44, of India. The injured visitor was identified as Shailesh Kisan Patel of New Zealand, who was being treated at a hospital in Kathmandu. The two pilots were also injured, the aviation authority said.
Nepal’s aviation authority is investigating the collision and said it would take any corrective measures needed. Its director general, Mukesh Dangol, told The Kathmandu Post that preliminary reports pointed to possible miscommunication between the pilots. The area is outside the coverage of Lukla Airport’s air traffic control tower, he said, so pilots communicate with one another.
The collision occurred during the autumn climbing season, as helicopter traffic in the Everest region has grown. Nepal has faced calls for stronger regulation while seeking to balance tourism with safety and environmental concerns.
In 2023, a helicopter crashed during a sightseeing trip over Mount Everest, killing five visitors from Mexico and a Nepali pilot. Local officials and Sagarmatha National Park authorities have also disputed helicopter restrictions. In 2024, the park said it planned to restrict sightseeing tours and some other flights from 2025, but civil aviation regulators initially said the park lacked authority to enforce the rule.
Sources: The New York Times World.