Indian tourist killed as two helicopters collide while landing near Everest base camp
Nepal's aviation authority has opened an inquiry into the collision at Pheriche, which also injured another passenger and both pilots.
A 47-year-old Indian tourist was killed on Tuesday when two helicopters collided while landing at Pheriche, a village at about 4,200 metres on the trekking route to Mount Everest base camp in Nepal.
The collision happened at about 8:11 am local time (7:56 am IST), according to the Solukhumbu District Police Office, as reported by PTI. Both helicopters had taken off from Lukla. The Indian man was a passenger on a Fishtail Air helicopter; the other aircraft, operated by Air Dynasty, was carrying cargo. Another passenger on the Fishtail Air flight, a 49-year-old New Zealand resident of Indian origin, was injured and flown to Kathmandu for treatment. PTI reported that both pilots were also injured and taken to Kathmandu. Al Jazeera, citing AP and Reuters, reported two injured. The number of people on board has not been confirmed.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal identified the helicopters as 9N-AJR (Fishtail Air) and 9N-AOD (Air Dynasty) and said it had begun an investigation, Oneindia reported. There are no roads in the Everest region, so helicopters carry supplies and evacuate trekkers and guides who fall ill.
We could not find a statement from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu by Wednesday morning.
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