Two helicopters collided while attempting to land on Tuesday morning in the Solukhumbu district, located in the eastern part of Nepal. One foreign national died in the incident, and another person sustained injuries.
Suraj Pandey, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) with the Armed Police Force (APF) stationed in Solukhumbu district, told IANS that helicopters belonging to Fishtail Air and Dynasty Air were attempting to land at the Pheriche helipad—located in Ward No. 4 of the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality—at approximately 8:15 AM. During this process, the rotor blades of the two helicopters collided.
According to Pandey, initial reports confirm the death of one foreign national and injuries to another individual. The nationality of the injured person has not yet been determined, and the identities of both the deceased and the injured remain unknown. Citing police sources, local media reported that the injured person was transported to Lukla via a Prabhu Air helicopter for emergency medical treatment.
Pandey stated that authorities are currently gathering information regarding the total number of people on board both helicopters. He also clarified that no fire broke out at the scene following the collision.
In a post on X, the Nepal Police stated, “One person died and another was injured following a collision between two helicopters at the Pheriche heliport in Solukhumbu.” Gyanendra Bhul, an information officer for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, told the local media outlet OnlineKhabar that the rotor blades of the two helicopters collided while they were landing at the Pheriche helipad. He added that efforts are underway to gather further details regarding the incident.
According to the police, the cause of the accident in Pheriche—a settlement in the Himalayan region—is not yet clear. The incident is under investigation, and other facts related to the accident are being ascertained.
The Everest region in Solukhumbu district is a major hub for international tourism, owing to the presence of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. It sees a constant flow of foreign mountaineers and tourists. Helicopters are regularly used here—both for transporting travelers across the rugged, mountainous terrain and for conducting emergency rescue operations.
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