On Tuesday, two helicopters crashed while attempting to land near Mount Everest’s base camp, resulting in at least one fatality and two injuries, according to officials. The helicopters were transporting trekkers hiking to Everest base camp during Nepal’s trekking season. Heavy snow had blanketed the area, but improved weather on Sunday enabled thousands of trekkers to move freely.
Due to the absence of roads on Everest, helicopters provide essential transportation for trekkers and guides who fall ill or become exhausted due to the high altitude and harsh conditions. The helicopters collided in Pheriche village, which sits at an elevation of 13,780 feet.
A 47-year-old tourist from India lost his life in the crash, as reported by Bhupendra Thapa, a Solukhumbhu district administration officer. Authorities are coordinating to airlift the remains to Kathmandu, according to Agence France-Presse. A New Zealand passenger sustained injuries and was being transported to Kathmandu for medical care. A Nepali pilot also suffered injuries but received treatment locally. The number of individuals aboard the two helicopters is unknown.
The Mount Everest base camp trek is a two-week journey from Lukla, the sole airstrip in the vicinity, to the base camp situated at 17,380 feet. Everest’s summit reaches over 29,000 feet. The trek is popular in fall, after the rainy season and before the winter months.
This crash marks the second incident on the route to Everest Base Camp this week. On Friday, October 30, a fire erupted at a hotel in Dingboche, a customary stop for acclimatizing trekkers. The fire, possibly triggered by a cooking gas cylinder explosion, led to the safe evacuation of guests and staff with no reported injuries or fatalities. Dingboche is approximately two miles from Pheriche, a 40-minute hike according to trail guides.
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