Tourist Killed and Three Injured as Two Helicopters Collide Near Mount Everest in Terrifying Mid-Air Footage

A sightseeing and rescue operation in Nepal’s Mount Everest region turned into a deadly aviation disaster after two helicopters collided while attempting to land at the same helipad. One tourist was killed and three other people were injured, as shocked hikers and ground workers watched the aircraft collide and debris scatter across the landing area. The accident happened on the morning of Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at Pheriche, a village along the popular Everest trekking route.

The helicopters were operated by Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty. According to reports, the collision occurred at approximately 8:11 a.m. local time as both aircraft approached the Pheriche helipad. Video footage circulating after the incident appeared to show the helicopters moving toward the landing area from different directions before their rotor blades struck. The impact caused the aircraft to crash, triggering an emergency response from local authorities and aviation personnel.

The tourist who died was identified as 47-year-old Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramadu, an Indian national from Tamil Nadu. He had been travelling aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter. Another passenger, identified in reports as Shailesh Krishna Patel, a 49-year-old New Zealand citizen of Indian origin, was injured. Both pilots also sustained injuries, although early reports differed on the severity of their conditions. The injured were taken for medical treatment, with some transported to hospitals in Kathmandu.

The circumstances surrounding the collision have raised serious questions about how two helicopters came to approach the same landing area at nearly the same time. One aircraft was reportedly carrying passengers who had been travelling through the Everest region, while the other was on a cargo-related flight. Authorities have not yet established the exact sequence of events or confirmed the final number of people aboard both aircraft.

The crash took place in a remote, high-altitude region where helicopters play an important role in transporting trekkers, climbers and supplies, as well as evacuating people suffering from altitude sickness or exhaustion. Pheriche sits approximately 4,200 meters above sea level, making aviation operations particularly challenging. Weather conditions, visibility, communication between pilots and the coordination of landing movements are among the factors investigators may need to examine.

For the victim’s family, the journey to Nepal’s famous mountain region has ended in devastating loss. Meanwhile, the injured are receiving medical attention as aviation authorities investigate the collision. The dramatic footage has drawn renewed attention to the risks of helicopter operations in the crowded Everest trekking region, but the official cause of this particular accident remains under investigation.

Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40890429/tourist-killed-three-injured-helicopters-collide/