Dehradun: A tragic helicopter crash today near Gaurikund, en route from Shri Kedarnath Ji to Aryan Helipad in Guptkashi, has resulted in multiple fatalities. The Aryan Aviation’s Bell 407 helicopter (Reg. VT-BKA) was carrying five passengers, one infant, and one crew member when it went down.
The ill-fated helicopter had departed from Guptkashi at 05:10 Hrs, landing at Shri Kedarnath Ji Helipad at 05:18 Hrs. It then took off again at 05:19 Hrs for its return journey to Guptkashi, but reportedly crashed near Gaurikund between 05:30–05:45 Hrs.
Preliminary investigations point to “Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT)” as the probable cause, with reports indicating the helicopter was airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding in the valley entry area. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
Rescue operations are currently underway at the crash site, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) engaged in efforts.
Following the incident, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a high-level meeting at 11:00 Hrs. The meeting, attended by senior state government officials, the Secretary (Civil Aviation), the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and associated teams, resulted in immediate and stringent actions:
- Aryan Aviation’s operations for the Char Dham Yatra have been suspended with immediate effect.
- The licenses of two pilots, Capt. Yogesh Grewal (CPL(H)-1453) of VT-TBC and Capt. Jitender Harjai (CPL(H)-1046) of VT-TBF, both belonging to TransBharat Aviation, have been suspended for six months. This action was taken after their helicopters were found to have been airborne under similar unsuitable weather conditions.
- All charter and shuttle helicopter operations in the region have been suspended for June 15th and 16th, 2025, as a safety precaution.
Furthermore, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has been directed to conduct a comprehensive review with all operators and pilots before any resumption of services, ensuring full alignment with established safety protocols. UCADA will also establish a dedicated Command-and-Control Room for real-time monitoring of operations and immediate escalation of any risk indicators.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also directed the DGCA to immediately deploy officers from its Airworthiness, Safety, and Operations divisions to actively oversee all helicopter activity in the Kedarnath valley and rigorously review the functioning of the new UCADA Command-and-Control Room.
In a strong statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation reiterated that aviation safety is non-negotiable. They emphasized that no operator should undertake flights in violation of weather-related or other protocols, issuing strict instructions to DGCA to enforce all extant provisions with full authority and maintain discipline in flying operations at all costs, given the sanctity of human life.