Man dies after helicopters crash near Mount Everest in Nepal

A routine landing in Nepal’s Everest region turned deadly on Wednesday when two tourist helicopters clipped each other in midair, killing an Indian visitor and sending a New Zealand passenger to hospital.

Officials said rotor blades from Fishtail Air and Dynasty Air struck one another as both aircraft tried to set down at about 8.11am (2.26am Irish time) at Pheriche Helipad in Solukhumbu.

A police spokesperson confirmed the man who died was 47.

A New Zealand citizen travelling on the same helicopter was injured in the collision and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Both pilots suffered minor injuries. They were flown to Kathmandu for additional medical care, authorities said.

Officials have not yet confirmed how many passengers were aboard the two helicopters when they crashed.

In Nepal’s high Himalayas, small helicopters are a mainstay of travel and logistics, ferrying tourists, climbers and supplies between remote settlements and serving as a lifeline for emergency evacuations.

But the country’s steep terrain and fast-shifting weather can quickly complicate flights, making aviation operations especially risky.

Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks including Mount Everest, draws thousands of international climbers and trekkers each year.