Indian Tourist Dies in Helicopter Collision Near Everest Base Camp

An Indian tourist died when two helicopters collided near the ground in Pheriche, about 12km south of Everest Base Camp, officials confirmed to the BBC. Verified footage showed their rotor blades striking each other during landing approaches at around 08:15 local time. Fishtail Air identified the victim as Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu.

Fishtail Air said its captain and another passenger were injured and taken to Kathmandu. A district official identified the injured passenger as a New Zealand tourist. Air Dynasty, which operated the other helicopter on a cargo flight, said its sole crew member was unhurt. Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority said the aircraft appeared to have attempted to land at the same spot.

Helicopters provide transport across Nepal’s difficult Himalayan terrain, where high altitude and rapidly changing weather can make flying hazardous. Pheriche sits more than 4,000 metres above sea level. However, the BBC described apparently clear conditions in the crash footage; the report does not establish a definitive cause of the collision.