Kedarnath Chopper Crash: Aryan Aviation Ops Suspended For Char Dham Yatra, Centre Orders High-Level Probes

In the wake of a tragic helicopter crash near Guptkashi on Sunday morning, the operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra have been suspended with immediate effect, the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed in a statement on Sunday. The incident has claimed the lives of seven people, including the pilot, sparking swift administrative action and a high-level investigation.

The ill-fated Bell 407 helicopter (Reg. VT-BKA), operated by Aryan Aviation, was carrying five passengers, an infant, and one crew member. It had taken off from Guptkashi at 5:10 am, reached Kedarnath by 5:18 am, and departed again at 5:19 am. The crash occurred near Gaurikund sometime between 5:30 and 5:45 am.

Initial assessments point to “Controlled Flight into Terrain” (CFIT) as the likely cause. According to the Ministry’s statement, the aircraft remained airborne despite low visibility and dense cloud cover near the valley’s entry point. A thorough investigation will be carried out by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to ascertain the exact cause.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed DGCA to deploy officers from its Airworthiness, Safety, and Operations divisions to closely supervise heli-activities in the Kedarnath valley. UCADA has also been instructed to conduct a detailed safety review with all operators before any resumption of services.

Rescue efforts are currently being undertaken by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

Following the crash, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened an emergency meeting at 11:00 am with top officials including representatives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Civil Aviation Ministry, and UCADA.

“All operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra stand suspended with immediate effect,” the Ministry declared.

Additionally, licences of two helicopter pilots operating under similarly unsuitable weather conditions—Capt. Yogesh Grewal (VT-TBC) and Capt. Jitender Harjai (VT-TBF), both from TransBharat Aviation—have been suspended for six months. As a precautionary measure, all charter and shuttle helicopter operations in the region were suspended for June 15 and 16.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami Orders Stricter SOPs, Centralised Command Centre In Dehradun

Chief Minister Dhami announced a high-level probe and insisted that accountability must be established. “Protecting the lives of the common people is the priority of the state government. Playing with life will not be allowed at any cost,” he said, as reported by PTI.

He also ordered the formulation of a stricter Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for helicopter operations and instructed the setup of a centralised Command-and-Control Centre in Dehradun for monitoring flights in real-time.

With inclement weather being cited as a factor in the crash, Dhami directed officials to install advanced weather forecasting equipment across the Himalayan region to improve accuracy and flight safety. “The weather is bad, and the safety of the pilgrims is paramount. There will be no heli services today and tomorrow,” the Chief Minister stated, as quoted by PTI.

He further urged that only experienced pilots be allowed to operate in the high-altitude Himalayan region and emphasised the need for full compliance with DGCA norms. “There should not be any laxity on compliance with the DGCA norms regarding helicopter operations in the state,” Dhami said.

Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Civil Aviation Secretary Sachin Kurve, Disaster Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, and others from UCADA, DGCA, and AAIB, were present at the emergency meeting held via videoconferencing.

District authorities in Rudraprayag have also been directed to reach out to the families of the deceased and ensure that arrangements are made for transporting the bodies to their respective hometowns.

The Sunday crash marks the fifth such incident involving helicopters on the Char Dham Yatra route since the pilgrimage commenced on April 30.

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