An Everest helicopter collision has left an Indian tourist dead after two aircraft struck while preparing to land at Pheriche in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district on Tuesday, 3 November, Joburg Etc reports.
Originally published via Joburg {etc}
The collision happened at approximately 08:11 local time, when the rotor blades of the two helicopters made contact near the helipad. The aircraft belonged to Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty and were registered as 9N-AJR and 9N-AOD respectively, according to the Civil Aviation Authority information reported by The Kathmandu Post.
The deceased was identified as Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu, an Indian national from Chennai. New Zealand citizen Shailesh Krishna Patel and a helicopter pilot were also reported injured. However, casualty figures have differed across reports, with OnlineKhabar reporting three injured, including both pilots, while the Associated Press reported two.
Indian Embassy responds to fatal collision
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu has expressed its condolences following the death of the Indian national.
In a statement shared on Tuesday, the Embassy said: ‘The Embassy of India in Kathmandu expresses its deepest condolences on the unfortunate demise of an Indian national in an incident involving collision between two helicopters in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal today.’
The Embassy also confirmed that it was working in close coordination with Nepali authorities following the incident.
Investigation into the helicopter collision
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. Preliminary reports have pointed to possible miscommunication between the pilots as the aircraft approached the landing area.
According to The Kathmandu Post, Nepal Civil Aviation Authority director-general Mukesh Dangol said the landing area falls outside the coverage of Lukla Airport’s air traffic control tower, meaning pilots are required to coordinate directly with one another.
Pheriche sits approximately 4 200 metres above sea level and serves as an important stopping point for people travelling towards Everest Base Camp. As the Associated Press explains, helicopters are essential in the region, where there are no roads connecting much of the Everest trekking route and aircraft are used to evacuate trekkers and guides requiring medical assistance.
The statement was shared by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu (@IndiaInNepal), which also confirmed that it was working closely with Nepali authorities to arrange the early repatriation of the deceased Indian national’s remains.
Originally published via Joburg {etc}
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