A sightseeing and rescue route near Mount Everest turned deadly after two helicopters collided while attempting to land, killing a tourist and leaving two other people injured.
The crash happened on the morning of November 3 at Pheriche, a village approximately seven miles south of Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
The helicopters, operated by Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty, were approaching the landing area when their rotor blades struck each other. Video footage of the incident reportedly shows one helicopter attempting to land as the other enters its path, resulting in the collision.
An Indian tourist aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter died in the crash. A passenger from New Zealand and the helicopter's pilot were injured and transported to Kathmandu for medical treatment.
The second helicopter was carrying cargo rather than passengers. Its only crew member escaped without injuries, according to reports.
Fishtail Air said its aircraft had been transporting passengers who had been rescued from the Everest region. Helicopters are frequently used in the area because there are no roads connecting many of the high-altitude settlements to the outside world.
The collision occurred during Nepal's busy autumn trekking season, when thousands of visitors travel through the region.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine how the two aircraft ended up attempting to land at the same location. Preliminary reports have raised the possibility of communication problems between the pilots, but no official cause has been established.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the landing and the events leading up to the collision.