Helicopter Collision Near Everest Kills Tourist

The helicopters collided at about 8:12 a.m. on November 3 as they tried to land at Pheriche, a village in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district about 13,780 feet above sea level. The crash killed 47-year-old Indian tourist Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu and injured New Zealand passenger Shailesh Kisan Patel and at least one pilot. The injured were taken to a hospital in Kathmandu for further care.

The aircraft belonged to Air Dynasty and Fishtail Air. Air Dynasty’s helicopter was carrying cargo, while Fishtail Air’s was transporting two foreign tourists who had been brought from the Everest region. The airline reported that its aircraft came down as it touched down with rescued passengers aboard.

Helicopters are used in the area to transport trekkers and guides who become ill or too exhausted to continue. There are no roads near Everest, and the aircraft provide a way to bring people down from the high-altitude route.

The crash came during Nepal’s autumn trekking season. Heavy snow had recently covered trails in the region, but conditions improved on Sunday, allowing thousands of trekkers to resume moving through the area. Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority has opened an investigation and will decide whether corrective action is warranted after reviewing its findings.