Indian National Dies in Nepal Helicopter Collision

Kathmandu, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : Two helicopters collided during landing in eastern Nepal on Tuesday morning, resulting in the death of an Indian national. The incident occurred in the Solukhumbu district, where one person died and another sustained injuries.

The deceased has been identified as Vasant Kumar, a resident of Tamil Nadu, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Navin Raja Budhathoki from the Solukhumbu District Police Office. He stated that the injured individual is a New Zealand citizen of Indian descent.

Initial reports indicate that both helicopters were operated by FishTail Air. The collision happened while attempting to land at a helipad in the Feriche area of Solukhumbu district, where a helicopter from Air Dynasty collided with the FishTail Air helicopter.

Budhathoki also mentioned that the pilot of the FishTail Air helicopter suffered minor injuries. Authorities noted that there were no passengers aboard the Air Dynasty helicopter.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal confirmed that an AS350 helicopter (registration number 9N-AOD) operated by Air Dynasty had departed from Lukla Airport for Feriche. The second helicopter, also an AS350 (registration number 9N-AJR), was transporting two foreign nationals from Gorakshep to Feriche. The collision occurred at 8:12 AM local time as both helicopters were landing.

Videos circulating on social media show the helicopters approaching each other, their rotor blades colliding before they crash to the ground. Local media reports indicate that the injured passenger has been transported to Kathmandu for further treatment.

Budhathoki added that preparations are underway to send the deceased passenger’s body to Kathmandu for a post-mortem examination. The Everest region is a popular tourist destination, where helicopters are frequently used to transport foreign visitors and assist in rescue operations.