Two helicopters collide while landing at Pheriche, on the Everest Base Camp route: one dead
The aircraft belonged to Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty, two of Nepal's largest operators. They approached from different directions in good visibility, and the cause hasn't been established.
Two helicopters collided on the morning of 3 November while landing at a helipad on the outskirts of Pheriche (4,371m), a common refuelling stop for flights to and from Everest Base Camp.
According to ExplorersWeb, a passenger, an Indian trekker, died at the scene. Two others, a New Zealand national and a senior pilot, were seriously injured and airlifted to hospitals in Kathmandu.
What we know
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Companies | Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty |
| Fishtail Air helicopter | Carrying passengers and crew |
| Air Dynasty helicopter | Carrying cargo |
| How it happened | They approached from different directions, tried to land at once and their rotor blades struck |
The cause hasn’t been established. The outlet calls the collision “inexplicable”, as visibility was good.
A valley with heavy air traffic
Helicopters are part of daily life in the Khumbu during the season: they carry cargo, tourists and rescues. This accident comes in an autumn season marked by cyclones.
To follow the season, read how Ama Dablam and Everest expeditions are heading back after the cyclone.
Sources and references
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