Two Helicopters Collide Near Everest Base Camp, One Person Killed
A crash at Pheriche village on Tuesday left one Indian tourist dead and two others injured.
By Daphne Turner ·
Two helicopters collided while attempting to land near Mount Everest's base camp on Tuesday. The crash killed one person and injured two others, officials confirmed.
The accident occurred at Pheriche village, which sits at an elevation of 4,200 meters, or about 13,780 feet. Bhupendra Thapa, an administration officer for Solukhumbhu district, identified the victim as a 47-year-old tourist from India.
The aircraft were transporting trekkers who had been hiking the route to base camp. Heavy snow had blocked the path until conditions improved on Sunday. That shift in weather allowed thousands of hikers to move along the trail.
One passenger from New Zealand sustained injuries and was being flown to Kathmandu for treatment. A Nepali pilot was also hurt but received care locally. Officials did not specify the total number of people aboard either helicopter.
Helicopters serve as the primary method for moving people on Everest because there are no roads in the region. They are often used to evacuate guides or trekkers who become ill or exhausted by the cold and altitude.
The standard trek to base camp lasts up to two weeks. It begins at Lukla, the only airstrip in the area, and ends at the base camp, which is located at 5,300 meters, or 17,380 feet. The fall season is the most popular time for this journey, occurring after the rainy season and before winter sets in.
