Civil Aviation Ministry issues strict instructions to DGCA to enforce chopper safety
In the wake of a tragic helicopter crash in the Gaurikund area of Uttarakhand, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Sunday issued strict instructions to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to enforce all safety protocols related to chopper operations in hilly and sensitive areas like the Kedarnath valley.
The ministry has emphasised that passenger safety is non-negotiable. It has warned that no helicopter operator should fly in unsafe weather or break operational rules.
The DGCA has been instructed to enforce all rules strictly and ensure that safety and discipline are maintained at every level, especially in pilgrimage zones where lives are at high risk.
The helicopter involved in the accident belonged to Aryan Aviation and was operating on the 'Shri Kedarnath Ji-Guptkashi' sector.
The Bell 407 chopper (Reg. VT-BKA) took off from Guptkashi at 5.10 a.m. and landed at Kedarnath at 5.18 a.m.
It departed again at 5.19 a.m. for its return journey but tragically crashed near Gaurikund sometime between 5.30 and 5.45 a.m.
There were five passengers, one infant, and one crew member on board. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are carrying out operations at the crash site.
Preliminary findings suggest the crash may have been caused by Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with reports of poor visibility and dense clouds at the valley entry point.
"The exact cause will be confirmed after a detailed probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)," the ministry said.
In Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a high-level emergency meeting at 11 a.m., attended by top officials from the state government, the Civil Aviation Ministry, the DGCA, and other agencies.
"Following the incident, the operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra have been suspended immediately," the ministry added.
Two helicopters from TransBharat Aviation were also found flying in similarly dangerous weather conditions.
"The licenses of both pilots involved -- Capt. Yogesh Grewal and Capt. Jitender Harjai -- have been suspended for six months," it said.
To ensure safety, all helicopter services in the region have been suspended on June 15 and 16.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has been directed to conduct a thorough review with all helicopter operators and pilots before flights are allowed to resume.
A Command-and-Control Room will be set up by the UCADA to monitor real-time flight operations and raise alarms in case of any risk.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
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
2 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.
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Seven people including pilot die in Uttarakhand chopper crash
Rudraprayag/Dehradun, June 15 (UNI) Seven people, including the pilot, died when a helicopter carrying pilgrims returning from the Kedarnath Temple crashed in the Gaurikund area of Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district today, official sources said. The helicopter was bringing back five devotees and an employee of the temple committee after the darshan of Baba Kedarnath when it crashed around 5-30 am due to bad weather. All seven people, including the pilot, were killed. A 23-month-old girl is also among the dead. The pilgrim family had come from Maharashtra. Heli service nodal officer Rahul Chaubey said Aryan Aviation Company's helicopter VTBKA/BELL 407 crashed due to bad weather in the Gaurikund area, falling in the forest above Gauri Mai Khark He said the helicopter was going from Kedarnath Temple to Guptkashi. Women cutting grass above Gaurikund reported about the crash, as well as the dust it raised. District Disaster Management Officer of Rudraprayag, Nandan Singh Rajwar, said the crashed helicopter had left Kedarnath for Guptkashi at 5:21 am and at 5:24 am it was seen near Valley Poin amidst heavy fog which had turned visibility to zero in the area. At 6:13 am, the helicopter company informed that the chopper had not reach Guptkashi. A search and rescue operation was immediately started and the emergency response teams were activated. Eight National Disaster Response Force teams, six of the State Disaster Response Force and 22 policemen, along with the team of District Disaster Relief Force, rushed to a place called Khadak, located about five kilometres above the incident spot Gaurikund, and began a massive search operation. He said that the bodies of the victims of the accident have been badly burnt. Rajwar informed that there were six adults and a child in the ill-fated chopper. The deceased have been identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan, pilot, resident of Jaipur, Vikram Rawat, employee, Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, resident of Rasi Ukhimath, (45), Vinod Devi, resident of Uttar Pradesh, (66), Trishti Singh Uttar Pradesh, (19), Rajkumar son Suresh Jaiswal, resident of Maharashtra, (41), Shraddha wife Rajkumar Jaiswal, resident of Maharashtra, (35), Kashi daughter Rajkumar, resident of Maharashtra, girl (02). He informed that the entire area has been cordoned off. Forensic and DNA sampling teams have also reached the informed that helpline numbers have been issued for the families of the affected. For this, State Emergency Operation Center 0135-2710334, 9058441404 1070 (toll fee) and Rudraprayag helpline number - 8958757335, 01364-233727 have been issued. UNI XC SSP BM
