Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: A foreign national died while the other was injured when two helicopters collided during landing at Pheriche in the Everest Region in Solukhumbu on Tuesday morning.
According to the District Police Office, Solukhumbu, choppers operated by Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty collided at Pheriche (4,371m).
The deceased has been identified as Indian national Basanta Kumar Balaramaradu who was onboard the Fishtail Air chopper. Similarly, Sailesh Krishna Patel of New Zealand, who was also on board the Fishtail Air chopper, was injured.
Videos circulating on social media show the rotor blades of two helicopters approaching from opposite directions colliding just seconds before landing at Pheriche. Both helicopters appear to have changed direction abruptly during their approach, possibly leaving the pilots unaware of each other’s positions.
Since aviation safety guidelines bar helicopters from carrying a full load of four to five passengers all the way to Kalapatthar (5,545m) or other high-altitude landmarks, choppers drop extra weight or split passengers at Pheriche before proceeding toward Kalapatthar or the base camp.
The injured have been airlifted to Nepal Mediciti Hospital, Lalitpur, for treatment.
