Pilot Killed In Uttarakhand Chopper Crash Served In Army For Over 15 Years
Jaipur:
Rajveer Singh Chauhan, the pilot of the helicopter that crashed in Uttarakhand early Sunday killing all seven on board, had served in the Indian Army for over 15 years and had vast experience of flying missions over different terrains.
Rajveer Singh Chauhan (37), a resident of Jaipur's Shastri Nagar, was working as a pilot with Aryan Aviation Private Ltd since October 2024.
He was the captain of Bell 407 helicopter that crashed near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand on Sunday morning. Besides him, six people were killed in the accident.
"I got information about the crash from his colleague," said Rajveer Singh Chauhan's father Govind Singh.
Singh said that his daughter-in-law and Rajveer's wife is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army and they became parents four months ago.
"His wife gave birth to twins four months ago," he said Govind Singh.
Having worked in the Indian Army, Rajveer Singh Chauhan had a vast experience of flying missions over different terrains, overseeing aerial operations and had been trained in different types of helicopters and their maintenance, according to his LinkedIn profile.
As soon as the news about his death broke, Rajveer Singh Chauhan's relatives and friends started reaching his residence in Shastri Nagar to console the family.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and other leaders expressed sorrow over the demise of seven people.
"The news of the loss of life of a pilot from Rajasthan and other devotees due to a helicopter crash in Kedarnath is extremely sad. May Baba Kedar grant a place in his lotus feet to the departed souls and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this blow," Sharma said.
Gehlot said the "death of seven people, including Jaipur resident pilot Rajveer Singh Chauhan, in the helicopter crash near Kedarnath is extremely sad".
"My deepest condolences are with the bereaved families in this difficult time," he said in a social media post.
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Time of India
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No ATC, no radar: Kedar pilots rely on eyesight in hostile airspace
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Time of India
4 hours ago
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5 pilgrims, toddler, pilot killed as Kedarnath chopper crashes amid severe weather
Dehradun: A helicopter carrying seven people — a toddler, five pilgrims and the pilot — crashed near Gaurikund on the Kedarnath route around 5.40am on Sunday, killing everyone on board. The Bell 407 chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation, caught fire after the crash, leaving the bodies charred. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will lead the inquiry into Sunday's crash. This is the second fatal chopper crash during this year's Char Dham Yatra — on May 9, six people died in a crash near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district. The helicopter, bearing registration number VT-BKA, had taken off from Kedarnath at 5:18am and likely ran into dense fog and poor visibility in the narrow Himalayan valley, officials said. The regional meteorological centre had issued a yellow alert for heavy rain in 10 districts, including Rudraprayag, on Sunday. Preliminary reports suggest adverse weather may have played a role. Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan, the pilot and a resident of Jaipur, died in the crash along with Vikram Rawat, 45, a Badri-Kedar temple committee representative from Ukhimath in Rudraprayag; Vinod Devi, 66, and Trishti Singh, 19, both from UP; Rajkumar Jaiswal, 41, a coal transporter from Maharashtra; his wife Shraddha Jaiswal, 35; and their two-year-old daughter, Kashi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Heads Turn as Walgreens Shoppers Discover 87¢ ED Pills fridayplans Learn More Undo Rescue teams from SDRF and NDRF reached the densely forested and rugged crash site after navigating thick fog and challenging terrain. All seven bodies were recovered. District disaster management officer NK Rajwar said, "It seems the weather changed suddenly, creating foggy conditions that caused the chopper to lose its course, ultimately leading to the accident." Rahul Choubey, district tourism officer and nodal officer for Kedarnath helicopter services, said: "The Aryan Aviation helicopter, which took off from Guptkashi, was the first to land at Kedarnath on Sunday morning. Upon reviewing video footage, it appears that cloud formation had developed in the upper reaches of the valley, which the pilot may not have been aware of. The chopper was flying at a higher altitude, whereas two other helicopters that landed safely negotiated the clouds by flying at lower altitudes. " The ministry of civil aviation confirmed the helicopter's 5:19am departure and announced enhanced oversight of Uttarakhand's helicopter network. On June 7, a helicopter carrying five pilgrims crash-landed near Badasu in Rudraprayag; only the pilot was injured. DGCA has since halved the number of permitted flights per hour in the Char Dham corridor, placed officers inside the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority's control room, and suspended Aryan Aviation's operations pending review. Two TransBharat Aviation pilots were also grounded earlier this week for flying in unsuitable weather.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Pilot killed in Kedarnath crash was Army veteran, wife serving as Lt Col
Dehradun/Jaipur: Among the seven killed in the helicopter crash near Gaurikund on the Kedarnath route on Sunday was the pilot, 37-year-old Lt Colonel (Retd) Rajveer Singh Chouhan from Jaipur. After serving in the Indian Army for over 15 years since 2009, Chouhan had begun his career in civil aviation just eight months ago, joining Aryan Aviation Private Limited, the operator of the ill-fated chopper, in Oct 2024. He was scheduled to return home soon to his wife, a Lt Colonel in the Army, to celebrate the birth of their twins, born a few months ago. As his father, Govind Singh, prepared for the celebrations, the family received the devastating news that Chouhan's helicopter had crashed around 5.30 am shortly after take-off. "He had just started the next chapter of his life," said a family friend. "The twins brought so much joy. Preparations were on for a traditional ceremony at home. No one imagined something so horrific would happen." With over 2,000 hours of flying experience, Chouhan had served in both the Regiment of Artillery and the Army Aviation Corps. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was involved in aerial operations, logistics, disaster response and risk assessment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Everybody Is Switching To This Enterprise Accounting Software [Take a Look] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo He had also undergone extensive training in helicopter operations, aviation safety, aircraft maintenance, and mission-critical logistics. Last year, he completed a full-time general management programme for defence officers in business administration and management from FMS Delhi. Since joining Aryan Aviation, he had been flying the Bell 407 helicopter. As news of his death came, relatives and friends gathered at his Jaipur home to mourn the loss of the former officer who was described as calm, tenacious and deeply committed to his duty. "He was a determined and courageous officer but always wore a gentle smile," said a former colleague. "Even in the most stressful situations, Rajveer remained composed and motivated everyone around him." His family left for Uttarakhand on Sunday evening to bring back his body. Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed his condolences over the tragedy and said, "The loss of a brave pilot from Rajasthan and other devotees in the Kedarnath helicopter crash is deeply saddening. May Lord Kedarnath give peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families." Preliminary reports suggest that adverse weather may have contributed to the crash. Officials said the helicopter likely ran into dense fog and poor visibility in the narrow Himalayan valley. Besides Captain Chouhan, the others killed in the crash were identified as Vikram Rawat, 45, a Badri-Kedar temple committee representative from Ukhimath in Rudraprayag; Vinod Devi, 66, and Trishti Singh, 19, both from Uttar Pradesh; Rajkumar Jaiswal, 41, a coal transporter from Maharashtra; his wife Shraddha Jaiswal, 35; and their two-year-old daughter, Kashi.
