Reuters : An Indian national has been killed and a New Zealander injured after two helicopters collided as they prepared to land in Nepal’s Mount Everest region on Tuesday, authorities say.
The New Zealander has been rescued, the chief district officer of Solukhumbu district, Kaman Singh Thapa Magar, told Reuters. The incident took place in the base camp area of Mount Everest, Magar said.
The collision has gone viral on social media after a video, purportedly showing the incident, surfaced online, Indian broadcaster NDTV reports. However, NDTV said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.
The video showed the rotors of the two helicopters striking each other moments before landing, sending both aircraft crashing onto the icy ground.
The helicopters were operated by two private firms, Fishtail Air and Dynasty Air. Fishtail Air said in a statement that its helicopter was carrying passengers who had been rescued from the Everest region when it crashed while landing.
The Indian and the New Zealander on board were tourists, a Fishtail official said. A Dynasty Air official said its helicopter was carrying only cargo.
The accident comes during the peak trekking season in Nepal, when helicopters ferry hikers and climbers in the region.
Small helicopters are widely used in Nepal to transport tourists, climbers and supplies, as well as to conduct emergency evacuations.
However, the country’s challenging mountainous terrain and rapidly changing weather conditions make aviation operations particularly hazardous.
Indian National Killed After Two Helicopters Collide In Nepal’s Mount Everest Region
