Two helicopters collided Tuesday while attempting to land at an altitude of 4,200 meters (13,780 feet) in Pheriche village, just below Mount Everest’s base camp, killing one person and injuring two others, according to officials.
A 47-year-old Indian tourist died in the crash, reported Bhupendra Thapa, a Solukhumbhu district administration officer. A New Zealand passenger sustained injuries and is being transported to the capital, Kathmandu, for treatment. A Nepali pilot was treated locally for his injuries.
The aircraft were transporting trekkers during Nepal's popular trekking season. Heavy snow had previously covered the route, but improved weather on Sunday allowed thousands of trekkers to resume their journeys.
Helicopters are the sole means of transporting sick or exhausted trekkers and guides from the mountain due to the absence of roads. The Mount Everest base camp trek typically lasts up to two weeks, starting from Lukla and ending at base camp, situated at 5,300 meters (17,380 feet). The trek is particularly popular in the fall, following the monsoon season and preceding the harsh winter months.