Helicopter Collision Near Everest Base Camp Kills One

Two helicopters collided while attempting to land near Mount Everest's South Base Camp on November 3, 2026, according to initial reports. The incident took place near Pheriche village, below the mountain's base camp, during a busy trekking season in Nepal.

The helicopters, operated by Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty, approached the same landing area when the collision occurred. A 47-year-old Indian tourist died, while a passenger from New Zealand and a Nepali pilot were injured. All injured individuals were later airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment.

The aircraft involved were both Airbus AS350 helicopters. The Air Dynasty helicopter, registered as 9N-AOD, departed Lukla Airport on a cargo flight, while Fishtail Air's 9N-AJR took off from Gorakshep carrying two foreign nationals. The collision reportedly happened at approximately 08:12 AM local time as the helicopters approached the helipad from opposite directions.

Footage verified by the BBC showed the helicopters' rotor blades clipping each other shortly before both aircraft came down. The collision occurred when the helicopters were still approximately 2–3 meters above the ground. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.

CAAN director general Mukesh Dangol suggested that communication difficulties may have contributed to the incident, as the location is outside the coverage of Lukla Airport's air traffic control tower. Dangol stated that pilots operating in the area must communicate directly with one another.

The accident adds to a history of serious helicopter incidents in the Everest region. In July 2023, a Manang Air Airbus AS350 B3e crashed in the Lamajura area of Solukhumbu district, killing six people, including five Mexican tourists and a Nepali pilot.