At least one person was killed and three injured when two helicopters collided when attempting to land at Pheriche, below Mount Everest’s base camp in Nepal on Tuesday.
The incident took place shortly after 8 AM local time. One helicopter operated by Air Dynasty was flying from Lukla Airport to Pheriche, while the other, operated by Fishtail Air, was arriving from Gorakshep with two foreign passengers, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
Video of the incident circulating on social media shows the two helicopters approaching the landing area from different directions. As the Air Dynasty aircraft tilts backward, apparently attempting to slow down, its spinning rotor blades appear to strike the midsection of the Fishtail Air helicopter and sever its tail, after which both crash.
A 47-year-old Indian national aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter was killed, while its pilot and a New Zealand passenger were injured, CAAN said.
The Air Dynasty pilot was also injured and received treatment at a hospital in Lukla, OnlineKhabar later reported, citing Nepal Police.
The cause of the collision remained under investigation.
“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,” CAAN Director General Mukesh Dangol told the Kathmandu Post.
“We are recording the statement of the injured pilot,” Dangol added.
The village of Pheriche lies more than 4,200 meters (13,800 feet) above sea level and is a popular stop for trekkers and climbers heading to Everest Base Camp.
Nepal’s challenging mountainous terrain and unpredictable weather can make helicopter flights hazardous. The aircraft are not permitted to land at Everest Base Camp but often transport trekkers returning from the Everest region, including those suffering from altitude sickness or exhaustion.
At least 22 fatal helicopter crashes have occurred in Nepal since aviation authorities began keeping records in 1966, the Kathmandu Post reported.