Helicopter Crash in Everest Region
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At around 8:11 am today, two helicopters operated by Fishtail Air and Dynasty Air collided while landing at the Pheriche helipad in Ward 4 of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu district.
The collision left one dead, an Indian citizen identified as a 47-year-old male, Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramadu from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The deceased was confirmed by the Police Inspector, Mausam Tamang of the Solukhumbu District Police Office.
Shailesh Krishna Patel, a New Zealand citizen of Indian Origin, was aboard the same helicopter and was injured in the collision. The injured were taken to Medicity Hospital in Lalitpur for treatment by a helicopter, according to Tamang.
The fatal collision left the pilots with sustained minor injuries, and they have been taken to hospital for further treatment.
The body of the deceased has been taken to Lukla Hospital, Tamang said.
As of now, there has not been a confirmed number of passengers aboard the two helicopters. Police are still investigating and ask to wait for confirmation.
Gyanendra Bhul, information officer at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, said the collision happened when the helicopter’s rotor blades got stuck upon landing.
