Helicopters Collide Near Everest Base Camp, Killing Tourist

A helicopter collision near Mount Everest's base camp in Nepal killed an Indian tourist and injured several people on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The aircraft struck each other while attempting to land at a helipad in Pheriche, Solukhumbu district, during the country's busy autumn trekking season.

Nepal Police said the crash occurred shortly after 8 a.m. local time at an altitude of approximately 4,200 meters (13,780 feet). Footage captured by a livestream weather camera operated by Webcam Nepal showed the two aircraft colliding as they approached the landing area.

Authorities identified the deceased tourist as Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu, a 47-year-old Indian national from Chennai. According to Nepal Police, he died at the scene. Arrangements were being made to transport his remains to Kathmandu, as reported by CBS News.

The helicopters belonged to two Nepalese aviation companies, Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty. Their aircraft were performing different operations along the Everest trekking route when the collision occurred.

According to ABC News, the Air Dynasty helicopter was transporting cargo from Lukla to Pheriche, with only its pilot aboard. The Fishtail Air aircraft was returning from Everest base camp with its captain and two foreign passengers.

One passenger, Shailesh Krishan Patel, a tourist from New Zealand, sustained serious injuries. Nepal Police said he was airlifted directly to Nepal Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu for medical treatment.

Reports differed on the number of injured crew members. Nepal Police told ABC News that both pilots were hurt, while BBC reporting, citing the companies and local officials, said the Air Dynasty pilot escaped without injury. The Fishtail Air captain was among those injured.

Nepal Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Gyanendra Bhul described the suspected circumstances surrounding the collision.

"It appears the accident happened when two helicopters... attempted to land at the same spot." Bhul said.

BBC-verified footage showed the helicopters' blades making contact during their approach. The video appeared to show one aircraft descending more rapidly than the other, although authorities had not announced a definitive cause of the accident.

The incident highlights the challenges of aviation operations in Nepal's mountainous terrain. Rapidly changing weather, high elevations and limited ground transportation make helicopter services an important part of the country's tourism and emergency response systems.

There are no roads connecting the Everest trekking route to the surrounding communities. Helicopters frequently transport trekkers and mountain guides who become ill or exhausted while traveling at high altitude, according to NBC News.

Pheriche sits along the popular route between Lukla and Everest base camp, which stands at approximately 5,300 meters (17,380 feet). The trek typically takes up to two weeks, with autumn attracting large numbers of international visitors after the monsoon season.

Heavy snowfall had previously covered sections of the trekking route. Conditions improved on Sunday, allowing thousands of trekkers to resume their journeys, according to NBC News.

The collision also followed another incident in the same trekking region. On Friday, October 30, a fire broke out at a hotel in Dingboche, approximately two miles from Pheriche.

Local media reported that a cooking gas cylinder explosion may have triggered the fire. Hotel guests and employees were evacuated safely, and no injuries or deaths were reported.