A fatal helicopter collision occurred near Mount Everest base camp when two aircraft struck each other during landing operations. The incident took place in Pheriche, located approximately 12 kilometers south of the base camp, at around 08:15 local time. One helicopter was operated by Fishtail Air, while the second was operated by Air Dynasty and was carrying cargo.
The fatality was identified as Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu, an Indian tourist. A passenger from New Zealand and the captain of the Fishtail Air helicopter sustained injuries in the collision. The Air Dynasty helicopter was operated by a single crew member who did not suffer injuries. All injured parties were transported to Kathmandu for medical treatment.
Footage of the incident showed the helicopter blades making contact as the two aircraft attempted to land at the same location. Weather conditions at the time appeared clear with no visible strong winds, though one helicopter appeared to be descending more rapidly than the other. According to Gyanendra Bhul, a spokesman for Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, the accident occurred when both helicopters attempted to land in the same area simultaneously.
Helicopter operations are common in Nepal due to the nation’s mountainous terrain, though aviation in the region faces significant hazards from rapidly changing weather patterns and high altitude conditions. The village of Pheriche sits at over 4,000 meters above sea level along the trekking route to Mount Everest. The collision occurred during the autumn climbing season, when multiple expeditions to Everest and nearby Ama Dablam mountain are typically active in the region.
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