Helicopter crash near Everest base camp kills one Indian tourist
A 47-year-old visitor died after two aircraft collided at Pheriche village, leaving two others with injuries.
By Bianca Herrera ·
One person died in a mid-air collision Tuesday involving two helicopters attempting to land near Mount Everest. The crash occurred at Pheriche village, a settlement situated at 4,200 meters above sea level. Officials confirmed that at least one tourist and two other individuals sustained injuries in the impact.
The aircraft were transporting trekkers who had just completed a journey to the base camp. Heavy snowfall had previously blocked the route, but conditions improved on Sunday. This weather shift allowed thousands of hikers to resume movement in the region. Helicopters serve as the primary mode of transport for evacuating sick or exhausted visitors in an area that lacks paved roads.
Bhupendra Thapa, an administration officer for Solukhumbhu district, identified the fatality as a 47-year-old tourist from India. A passenger from New Zealand also suffered injuries and was being airlifted to Kathmandu for medical care. A Nepali pilot was wounded in the crash but received treatment at a local facility. Authorities did not specify the total number of people aboard the two helicopters at the time of the collision.
The trek to the base camp is a two-week expedition that begins at Lukla. This location holds the only airstrip in the area. The base camp itself sits at 5,300 meters elevation. The route is most popular during the fall season, a window between the rainy months and the onset of winter. This timing offers the most stable weather for hikers navigating the high altitude.
