Indian national killed, New Zealander injured in mid-air chopper collision near Everest
Summary
An Indian national was killed and a New Zealander of Indian origin injured when two helicopters collided while attempting to land in Nepal’s Everest region. The crash has renewed concerns over helicopter traffic, safety, and restrictions in the Sagarmatha National Park area.
Key Points
- Two helicopters collided while landing in Pheriche in the Everest region, killing Vasanth Kumar Balaramudu and injuring Shailesh Krishna Patel and pilot Rabindra Pradhan.
- The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said the collision likely involved miscommunication between pilots in an area outside Lukla ATC coverage.
- The incident has intensified long-running disputes between helicopter operators and local communities over sightseeing flights in Sagarmatha National Park.
- Local authorities have already moved to restrict helicopter sightseeing flights in the park, citing ecosystem damage and disturbance to residents and wildlife.
