A New Zealander of Indian origin was injured and an Indian national killed after two helicopters collided while attempting to land in Nepal’s Everest region on Tuesday morning.
According to a report by The Kathmandu Post, the injured New Zealander, identified as Shailesh Krishna Patel, was travelling aboard a Fishtail Air helicopter when the collision occurred at around 8.12 am at a helipad in Pheriche, in Solukhumbu district.
The Indian national who died was identified as Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu. The Fishtail Air helicopter’s pilot-in-command, Rabindra Pradhan, was also injured. Both survivors were airlifted to Nepal Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu, as reported by The Kathmandu Post.
According to Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, the collision involved two AS350 helicopters. One, operated by Air Dynasty Heli Service Pvt Ltd, had flown from Lukla Airport on a cargo mission. The other, operated by Fishtail Air Pvt Ltd, had taken off from Gorakshep carrying two foreign nationals.
Pheriche, located at an altitude of approximately 4,371 metres, is a popular stop for trekkers and climbers heading towards Mount Everest.
A video circulating on social media reportedly shows the Air Dynasty helicopter descending rapidly despite warnings from ground staff. As it approached the helipad, it collided with the Fishtail Air helicopter, which was attempting to land from the opposite direction.
The rotor blades of the Fishtail Air helicopter struck the passenger compartment windows of the Air Dynasty aircraft while both were still around two to three metres above the ground.
The exact cause of the collision is yet to be established.
“Preliminary reports suggest miscommunication between the pilots, as the area is outside the coverage of Lukla Airport's air traffic control tower and pilots have to communicate with each other,” said Mukesh Dangol, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. “We are recording the statement of the injured pilot,” as quoted by The Kathmandu Post.
The incident has once again drawn attention to helicopter safety in Nepal’s mountainous regions, where challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions can make flying particularly risky.
It also comes amid an ongoing dispute between helicopter operators and local communities over the growing number of flights in the Everest region, as reported by The Kathmandu Post.
In December 2025, the local municipality and Sagarmatha National Park issued directives restricting sightseeing helicopter flights over the park, while allowing rescue operations. The restrictions were scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2026.
Local communities have raised concerns that increasing helicopter traffic is affecting the fragile ecosystem and disturbing the tranquillity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Residents have also complained about noise affecting schools, offices and wildlife, as well as helicopter operators picking up returning trekkers and reducing employment opportunities for local people, The Kathmandu Post has reported.
The tourism industry, however, has warned that restrictions on sightseeing flights could affect Nepal’s high-end tourism market, as helicopter tours offer travellers an opportunity to see Everest without undertaking the lengthy trek.
According to The Kathmandu Post, helicopter operators already face limitations on flights in the region. Sightseeing tours can carry up to four passengers as far as Lukla, but only two passengers are permitted to travel from Lukla to Kala Patthar, near Everest Base Camp. Helicopters can fly over the base camp but are not allowed to land there.
Nepal has a history of fatal helicopter accidents. In July 2023, a Manang Air helicopter crashed in the Lamajura area of Solukhumbu district, killing all six people on board, five Mexican tourists from the same family and Nepali pilot Captain Chet Bahadur Gurung, as reported by The Kathmandu Post.
At least 22 fatal helicopter crashes have been recorded across Nepal since the aviation authority began maintaining records in 1966.