Police in Nepal confirmed that two helicopters collided while attempting to land at the Pheriche helipad in Solukhumbu district, an altitude of roughly 4,200 meters on the route to Everest base camp. The accident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. local time and was captured on a livestream weather camera operated by Webcam Nepal.
Details of the crash
One aircraft was a commercial cargo helicopter operated by Air Dynasty, flying from Lukla to Pheriche with a single pilot on board. The second was a passenger‑carrying helicopter run by Fishtail Air, returning from an Everest base camp with a pilot and two foreign passengers.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Nabin Raja Budhathoki, both pilots sustained injuries. The Air Dynasty pilot was taken to a medical facility in Lukla, while the Fishtail Air pilot was flown to a hospital near Kathmandu for treatment.
Victims
The only passenger who died at the scene was identified as Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu of Chennai, India. The other passenger, Shailesh Krishan Patel of New Zealand, suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Nepal Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu for care.
Impact on tourism and aviation
While the peak climbing season on Everest has ended, Nepal is currently in its prime autumn trekking period. The crash comes as the nation continues to recover from a severe monsoon season that produced deadly flash floods in late August.
Officials noted that the incident could represent another setback for Nepal’s vital tourism and aviation sectors, which rely heavily on safe transport to remote mountain regions.
Response and investigation
Police are conducting a preliminary investigation into the cause of the collision. The live footage shows the two helicopters approaching the helipad simultaneously before the impact.
Authorities have urged travelers to remain vigilant and to follow safety advisories when using aerial transport in the high‑altitude regions surrounding Everest.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
