Days after the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed around 274 lives, Uttarakhand witnessed another aviation disaster. On Sunday, Aryan Aviation’s Bell 407 helicopter, operating between Shri Kedarnath Ji and Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi, was involved in a fatal accident. The helicopter was carrying seven passengers, including one infant, along with one crew member.
While the ministry of civil aviation has not officially confirmed the number of survivors, media reports citing local officials suggest that all seven passengers lost their lives. This marks the sixth helicopter crash on the char dham route in Uttarakhand in just over 40 days.
As a precaution, the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has reduced the frequency of helicopter operations to the char dham pilgrimage sites and is conducting enhanced surveillance while reviewing further safety measures. The aircraft accident investigation bureau (AAIB) has taken charge of investigating the crash.
Preliminary findings suggest that the probable cause may be controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), with reports indicating the helicopter was airborne despite poor visibility and heavy cloud cover at the valley’s entry point. The exact cause will be determined following a detailed investigation by the AAIB.
Rescue operations by the national disaster response force (NDRF) and state disaster response force (SDRF) are currently ongoing at the crash site.
In response, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a high-level meeting with senior officials, including the civil aviation secretary and DGCA representatives, to review safety protocols.
Immediate actions include suspending Aryan Aviation’s char dham yatra operations and grounding two helicopters from Trans Bharat Aviation, whose pilots’ licenses have been suspended for six months for flying in unsafe weather conditions. Additionally, all charter and shuttle helicopter services in the region will be suspended on June 15 and 16 as a precaution.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has been directed to conduct a comprehensive safety review with operators and pilots before any flights resume. UCADA will also establish a Command-and-Control Room for real-time monitoring and risk management.
Furthermore, DGCA officers specializing in airworthiness, safety, and operations will be deployed to oversee helicopter activities in the Kedarnath valley and supervise UCADA’s command center.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has emphasized that aviation safety is non-negotiable, warning that no operator should conduct flights in violation of weather or safety protocols. The Ministry has instructed the DGCA to strictly enforce all existing regulations and ensure discipline in flight operations, underscoring the paramount importance of safeguarding human life.