A New Zealand national was rescued after two helicopters collided in Nepal’s Mount Everest region, while an Indian tourist was killed in the incident, officials said.
The accident occurred near the Mount Everest base camp in Solukhumbu district, according to Chief District Officer Kaman Singh Thapa Magar.
The helicopters were operated by two private companies, Fishtail Air and Dynasty Air.
Fishtail Air said its helicopter was transporting passengers who had been rescued from the Everest region when it crashed while attempting to land.
An official from Fishtail Air confirmed that the Indian and New Zealand nationals aboard the helicopter were tourists. Meanwhile, a Dynasty Air official said its aircraft was carrying cargo only.
The incident took place during Nepal’s peak trekking season, when helicopters are frequently used to transport hikers and climbers across the mountainous region.
The accident follows another fatal helicopter crash last week in India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, where six people lost their lives.
The helicopter was travelling from Badrinath, a major Hindu pilgrimage site in the mountains, to Dehradun when it crashed, according to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA).
All six people aboard the aircraft, including five passengers and the pilot, were killed, UCADA Chief Executive Officer Prateek Jain said.
