KATHMANDU — A fatal aviation incident occurred in Nepal’s Everest region on Tuesday morning when two helicopters collided while attempting to land at a high-altitude helipad. Authorities confirmed that a 47-year-old Indian national was killed, while a New Zealand national and a Nepali pilot sustained injuries.
The collision took place at approximately 8:12 a.m. local time at the Pheriche helipad in the Solukhumbu district. Located at an altitude of roughly 4,371 meters (14,340 feet), Pheriche is a key stopover point for trekkers and mountaineers navigating the Himalayan terrain.
According to an official statement from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), both aircraft involved were AS350 helicopters. One helicopter, registration 9N-AOD, operated by Air Dynasty Heli Service Pvt. Ltd., was flying a cargo route after taking off from Lukla Airport. The second aircraft, registration 9N-AJR, operated by Fishtail Air Pvt. Ltd., had departed from Gorakshep in Solukhumbu carrying two foreign passengers.
The impact occurred as both pilots maneuvered toward the same landing zone. Emergency personnel responded to the scene, and the injured passenger and pilot were evacuated for medical treatment.
CAAN officials have launched an investigation to determine the factors that led to the incident. High-altitude helicopter operations in the Everest region are frequently complicated by unpredictable weather, strong mountain winds, and limited landing space.
