Uttarakhand chopper crash pilot an Indian Army veteran of 15 years
The pilot of the helicopter which crashed in Uttarakhand Sunday morning was an Army veteran from Jaipur with about 15 years of service. Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan was among the seven killed after the helicopter carrying pilgrims of the Char Dham yatra from Kedarnath crashed near Rudraprayag's Gaurikund.
Extending his condolences, Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said, 'The untimely death of Jaipur's pilot Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Rajveer Singh Chauhan in a helicopter crash while going to Kedarnath is extremely painful. May God give peace to the departed soul and strength to the family in this difficult time. The entire state is with the Chauhan family in this hour of grief.'
Chauhan started flying the Bell 407 helicopter in October. He joined the Indian Army in 2009, and his last position was Lieutenant Colonel. As per his LinkedIn profile, his role 'involved operations planning and executing flying missions over daunting terrains that few would navigate'
'I led initiatives that impacted remote communities, from constructing a primary school to establishing a healthcare center, elevating the quality of life for the local populace. My leadership extended to a team of 50 highly skilled Air Traffic Personnel. I led the planning and execution of flying operations in the intricate terrain of Punjab, along the International Border, Chauhan said in his profile.
'We were at the forefront during crises, providing Human Assistance and Disaster Relief in flood situations, saving lives, and delivering crucial supplies to our soldiers,' he said.
He also said his total flying experience with the Indian Army was over 2,000 hours. He completed his Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from University of Rajasthan in 2007, as per the LinkedIn profile.
Confirming the crash and the deaths, Nilesh Bharne, Inspector General, Law and Order, Uttarakhand, said, 'Around 5.20 am on Sunday, the helicopter went missing after taking passengers from Kedarnath, en route to Guptkashi. It crashed in Gaurikund, leading to seven deaths. We are ascertaining the reason for the crash.'
Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) issued a statement saying that the helicopter of Aryan Aviation, a Bell 407 utility chopper, 'crashed near Gaurikund due to unknown reasons'.
Uttarakahand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the local administration and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. 'I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the travellers,' he wrote on X.
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Time of India
26 minutes 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
an hour 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
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
'I just wanted to see a plane...': Teen who accidentally filmed Ahmedabad crash struggles with trauma
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel What began as an innocent wish to see an aeroplane up close has left 17-year-old Aryan Asari haunted by one of the most horrifying tragedies in Indian aviation history. The Class 12 student had no idea that the short video he took out of curiosity would capture the final moments of Air India flight AI-171 , and change his life had just reached his father's rented house in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar around 12:30 pm on June 12. His father, a retired Army jawan now working as a metro security guard, had moved there recently. Aryan, who had come from Shamlaji in Aravalli to buy textbooks, was told planes often flew low over the neighbourhood. So, he went to the terrace, eager to catch a glimpse.'I had never seen a plane so close before,' he told reporters in a shaky voice. 'I took out my phone and started recording, just to show my friends. At first, everything seemed normal. Then… it just tilted and crashed. Right in front of me. And then flames… black smoke… screaming…'Aryan stood frozen. What he had recorded wasn't just a plane, it was 241 lives, including several on the ground, vanishing in a burst of fire. The plane had crashed into the campus of BJ medical college, barely moments after couldn't move. 'I didn't know what to do. I couldn't believe what I had seen. I wanted to stop watching, but I couldn't look away. That moment… it keeps replaying in my head.'The video he recorded was first sent to his father, but within minutes, it was everywhere. News channels, social media, WhatsApp forwards, his footage had gone viral. Aryan became an accidental witness to a national house owner, Kailashba, said Aryan had come to Ahmedabad for the first time. 'Who could have thought a schoolboy would witness such horror on his first day in the city? He was pale. He couldn't eat or speak for hours. He just sat there, shaking.'Still traumatised, Aryan gave a statement to the Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Saturday. But the nightmares wouldn't stop. He begged his father to let him return is now back in his village, hoping to leave the horror behind and focus on his Class 12 studies. But the images, the burning aircraft, the chaos, the helpless screams, continue to haunt him.'I just wanted to see a plane,' Aryan whispered before leaving. 'Not watch one fall from the sky.'Inputs from PTI
