Two helicopters collide near Mount Everest base camp

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 3 Nov, 08:12 · Archive

Two helicopters collided while attempting to land near Mount Everest base camp on Tuesday, killing one person and injuring two others.

Two helicopters collided on Tuesday while attempting to land at Pheriche village, just below Mount Everest base camp, at an altitude of 4,200 metres (13,780 feet). The crash killed one person and injured two others, with onlookers witnessing the accident as it unfolded near the helipad in Nepal's Solukhumbu district.

A 47-year-old Indian tourist was killed in the collision. A passenger from New Zealand was injured and was being transported to the capital, Kathmandu, for treatment. A Nepali pilot sustained minor injuries and was treated locally. The total number of people aboard the two helicopters was not confirmed.

The accident occurred during Nepal's popular trekking season, when heavy snow had recently covered the mountain route before weather improved on Sunday, allowing thousands of trekkers to move around the area. Helicopters are the only viable means of evacuating trekkers and guides who become sick or exhausted in the cold and high altitude environment, as there are no roads on the mountain.

Footage posted online showed more than a dozen people running to safety as the helicopters crashed into the ground. The aircraft were identified as belonging to Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty, according to reports. They had been attempting to land at the Pheriche helipad in a narrow passage at the foot of Mount Everest.

The Mount Everest base camp trek is popular with international visitors, lasts up to two weeks and runs from Lukla airstrip to base camp at 5,300 metres (17,380 feet). Up to 60,000 people trek to Everest base camp annually, with peak seasons in April to May and October to November.

How it is being reported

• Two helicopters crash near Everest base camp, killing Indian touristTwo helicopters have collided while preparing to land in Nepal’s Mount Everest region, killing an Indian tourist.Al Jazeera · 3 Nov, 07:34
• Two tourist helicopters collide in mid-air while landing in front of tour group below Mount Everest base camp, killing one personTwo helicopters collided Tuesday while trying to land just below Mount Everest's base camp, killing at least one person and injuring two others.Daily Mail · 3 Nov, 07:27
• Two helicopters crash in mid-air near Mount Everest leaving one tourist deadThe crash happened in front of onlookers as the two helicopters attempted to land (Picture: X) Two helicopters smashed near the Mount Everest base camp in front of onlookers, killing a tourist and injuring another person. Climbers and hikers were gathered near a helipad in Nepal ’s Solukhumbu…Metro · 3 Nov, 07:14
• One dead after two helicopters collide near Mount Everest in NepalAuthorities have confirmed that a 47-year-old Indian national was killed and two people injured.Al Jazeera · 3 Nov, 07:06
• Two helicopters crash near Mount Everest base camp leaving one dead and two injuredHeavy snow had covered the route before the weather improved Sunday and thousands of trekkers were able to move around before the tragic incident took placeThe Mirror · 3 Nov, 06:02

In this story: Mount Everest · Nepal · Pheriche · Solukhumbu · Kathmandu · Fishtail Air · Air Dynasty

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log