At about 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, a Fishtail Air helicopter and an Air Dynasty helicopter collided while landing at a helipad near Mount Everest’s base camp in Solukhumbu district, killing an Indian tourist and injuring a New Zealander, officials said.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said the rotors of the two aircraft struck each other during the landing process, according to information officer Gyanendra Bhul. CAAN is conducting further inquiries to establish additional details about the incident.
Reuters reported that the deceased was a 47‑year‑old Indian national and the injured passenger was a New Zealand national. The crash happened amid the peak trekking season, when helicopters ferry hikers and climbers to and from the base camp area.
Fishtail Air said its helicopter was carrying passengers rescued from the Everest region when it crashed during landing, while a Dynasty Air official noted its aircraft was transporting only cargo. The New Zealand national was rescued by local teams.
The incident underscored the risks of helicopter operations in the high‑altitude mountain region and prompted an investigation by Nepal’s aviation authorities.
