Pheriche helipad near Mount Everest serves trekkers travelling to Everest Base Camp.
Two helicopters collided while landing at Pheriche helipad, killing a 47-year-old tourist and injuring three other people.
A Nepal helicopter collision killed an Indian tourist and injured three other people near Mount Everest on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The aircraft collided while attempting to land at Pheriche helipad in Solukhumbu district.
The accident occurred at about 8:11am local time, approximately 4,200 metres above sea level. The tourist, 47-year-old Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramadu from Chennai, reportedly died at the scene.
Rescue and cargo flights involved
Preliminary reports indicate that a Fishtail Air helicopter was carrying rescued trekkers, while an Air Dynasty aircraft was transporting cargo. Their rotor blades struck each other during landing at the high-altitude helipad.
A 53-year-old New Zealand tourist aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter also suffered injuries. An aircraft took the tourist to Kathmandu for medical treatment after the collision.
Both pilots survived the accident. However, the Fishtail Air pilot needed hospital treatment in Kathmandu, while the Air Dynasty pilot sustained minor injuries.
Pheriche serves as a key transit point for trekkers heading towards Everest Base Camp. Helicopters frequently transport tourists, trekkers and climbers along this popular mountain route.
Nepal helicopter collision raises coordination concerns
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal officials suspect that possible miscommunication between the pilots may have contributed to the crash. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances to establish the exact cause.
The helipad lies outside Lukla Airport’s active air traffic control coverage. As a result, pilots must coordinate their movements independently when approaching the landing area.
Heavy snowfall covering the helipad may also have reduced visibility during the landing attempts. Those conditions could have made it harder to judge the landing area and the other aircraft’s position.
The fatal collision has renewed attention on the risks of helicopter operations in Nepal’s mountainous terrain.
