By Basant El-Faramawy
An Indian tourist died after two helicopters collided while attempting to land near Mount Everest base camp in Nepal on Tuesday, officials confirmed.
Collision Details
Verified footage showed the rotor blades of the two aircraft clipping each other during landing around 08:15 local time (02:30 GMT) in Pheriche, approximately 12km (7 miles) south of Everest Base Camp. One helicopter, operated by Fishtail Air, was carrying passengers; the other, operated by Air Dynasty, was transporting cargo. Weather conditions appeared clear at the time.
Victims and Injuries
Fishtail Air identified the deceased as Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu. A New Zealand tourist and the Fishtail captain were injured and evacuated to Kathmandu. The sole crew member on the Air Dynasty helicopter was unharmed.
Official Response
Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Gyanendra Bhul said the accident occurred when both helicopters attempted to land at the same spot. Solukhumbu district official Bhupendra Thapa confirmed the injured tourist's nationality.
Aviation Challenges in the Himalayas
Helicopters are widely used for transport in Nepal's rugged terrain, but rapidly changing weather and high altitude make operations hazardous. Pheriche sits at over 4,000 meters (13,120 feet) above sea level on the trekking route to Everest. Autumn is a peak climbing season for Everest and nearby Ama Dablam.
