Two Helicopters Collide Near Everest Base Camp: One Dead, Two Injured

POLICY WIRE — Pheriche, Nepal — At least one person died and two others were injured after two helicopters collided while attempting to land near Mount Everest’s base camp on Tuesday.

The aircraft were transporting trekkers who had been hiking during Nepal’s popular fall trekking season. Officials stated that heavy snow had previously blocked the route before weather conditions improved on Sunday, allowing thousands of hikers to resume travel.

Helicopters serve as the critical extraction method for injured or exhausted trekkers in the region, as no roads connect the high-altitude areas.

The crash occurred in Pheriche village, located at an elevation of 13,780 feet.

Bhupendra Thapa, a Solukhumbhu district administration officer, confirmed that a 47-year-old Indian tourist was killed in the incident. The tourist’s remains are being airlifted to the capital, Kathmandu, according to the Agence France-Presse.

A New Zealand passenger sustained injuries and is being transported to Kathmandu for medical treatment. A Nepali pilot was also hurt but received care at a local facility.

The total number of individuals aboard the two helicopters remains unknown.

The trek to Everest Base Camp spans up to two weeks, starting from Lukla’s airstrip and ending at the camp situated 17,380 feet above sea level. Everest’s summit reaches an altitude of more than 29,000 feet.

Trekkers typically make the journey during the autumn months, a period that follows the rainy season and precedes the severe winter weather.

This collision marks the second significant incident along the route this week. On Friday, October 30, a fire engulfed a hotel in Dingboche, a common stop for trekkers acclimatizing to the altitude.

Dingboche is situated approximately two miles from Pheriche, with trail guides noting the walk between the two locations takes about 40 minutes.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)