Two helicopters collide while landing near Mount Everest, killing an Indian tourist

Collision during landing at Pheriche

Two helicopters collided on Tuesday morning, 3 November, while coming in to land at Pheriche, a village in Solukhumbu district in Nepal's Khumbu region at an altitude of about 4,200 metres. The aircraft belonged to Air Dynasty and Fishtail Air, two operators that carry tourists in the Everest area. According to the Independent, the machines were ferrying trekkers bound for base camp during one of the main trekking seasons in Nepal. Reports describe the rotors of the two helicopters catching each other during the approach. TVP Info reports that a captain flew the Fishtail Air machine and another captain flew the Air Dynasty helicopter. A video shared on social media is said to show the moment of impact, but its authenticity has not been confirmed.

Casualties and injuries

One person died in the collision. A district administration officer in Solukhumbu identified the dead person as a 47-year-old tourist from India, and local officials said the fatality was a passenger on the Fishtail Air helicopter. Police said the dead person had not yet been formally identified. Two others were injured: a passenger from New Zealand and a Nepali pilot. The New Zealander was to be taken to Kathmandu for treatment. Reports differ on the pilot, with one account saying he was flown to hospital by another helicopter and another saying he was treated on the spot. A Simrik Air helicopter reached the scene and its crew took part in the rescue effort. The total number of people on board both aircraft has not been established.

Why Everest flights rely on helicopters

Mount Everest has no roads, so helicopters are the only practical way to bring sick or exhausted trekkers down from the high ground. Autumn is a popular time to trek, because the monsoon rains have ended and conditions are less cold than in winter. The trek to the base camp, at about 5,300 metres, starts at the Lukla airstrip and can take up to two weeks. Pheriche lies on that popular route, which draws trekkers throughout the year. Trekkers who fall ill at altitude depend on these flights. The Nepali government has in the past introduced measures to limit the number of climbers, but those steps had no clear effect.

Details still unclear

Several details were still unclear in the first reports. The number of people on board both helicopters had not been established. The authenticity of the video circulating on social media had not been confirmed. The reports available did not state what caused the collision. Local officials said they were still gathering details about the crash.