Two Helicopters Collide at Pheriche Helipad Near Everest, One Passenger Dies

Two small commercial helicopters collided while attempting to land at the Pheriche helipad in Nepal's Solukhumbu district on Tuesday, November 3, at approximately 8:11 a.m. local time. The helipad is located along the popular Everest Base Camp trekking route at an altitude of around 4,200 meters.

According to Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority, the collision occurred when the rotor blades of the two helicopters struck each other as the aircraft approached to land. The helicopters were operated by Air Dynasty and Fishtail Air.

“The designated helipad at Pheriche could accommodate six or seven helicopters at a time.”

A 47-year-old Indian passenger named Basant Kumar Balaramudu, who was aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter, died in the accident. Another passenger, New Zealand national Shaileshkishan Patel, and the pilots of both helicopters sustained injuries and are receiving treatment in Kathmandu.

CAAN spokesperson Bikram Raj Gautam said an investigation into the accident had begun and the authority would introduce corrective measures based on the findings. A senior CAAN technical official described the incident as a serious lapse in pilot responsibility, though the exact cause will be established through the investigation.

The Pheriche helipad can accommodate six or seven helicopters at a time, but initial observations suggest both pilots may have approached the same landing point. Helicopter operations in areas above Lukla largely take place beyond the direct communication coverage of CAAN's air traffic controllers, requiring pilots to coordinate directly with one another.

Pheriche is an important stop for trekkers heading toward Everest Base Camp, where many hikers stop to acclimatize to the thin mountain air. The village is also home to a medical facility run by the Himalayan Rescue Association that treats trekkers experiencing altitude-related emergencies.

Flying in the region comes with considerable challenges because thinner air at high altitudes reduces lift from rotor blades and affects engine performance, leaving pilots with narrower margins for maneuvering during takeoffs and landings.