An FIR has been registered against two officials from Aryan Aviation—Accountable Manager Kaushik Pathak and Manager Vikas Tomar—following a tragic helicopter crash that occurred on Sunday in the Kedarnath region. The crash, involving a Bell 407 helicopter carrying seven individuals, claimed the lives of all on board.
The police have charged the officials under section 105 of the BNS and section 10 of the Aircraft Act. Consequently, operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra have been suspended indefinitely. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also mandated the suspension of all charter and shuttle helicopter services in the area for safety reasons on June 15 and 16.
The helicopter took off at approximately 5:20 am with the intention of reaching Guptkashi but tragically crashed near Gaurikund. The passengers included five adults and an infant, alongside one crew member. Chief Minister Dhami stated that the crash was likely due to adverse weather conditions. Preliminary investigations indicate that the helicopter may have encountered a Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) situation, navigating through heavy clouds and poor visibility, potentially striking the ground or a mountain while still under control.
This incident marks the fifth helicopter-related mishap in the Kedarnath region since the commencement of the Char Dham Yatra season on April 30. Earlier in June, an emergency landing was necessitated by a technical issue shortly after another helicopter’s takeoff, fortunately resulting in no fatalities, although the pilot was injured.
This recurrence of helicopter crashes highlights ongoing safety concerns in the area. However, taking proactive measures like suspending operations will hopefully lead to improvements in safety protocols, ensuring better oversight for future flights in challenging conditions.