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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
5 crashes in 6 weeks expose gaps in Uttarakhand's chopper safety
1 2 Dehradun/New Delhi: Manoj Sharma doesn't fly by the book in the Kedarnath sector — he flies by sight, by wind, by instinct. "We are flying in one of the world's most unforgiving regions with very little real-time weather support," he said. "Operations in such large numbers are being conducted on pilot observation and visual reference. The weather is very unpredictable and changes very rapidly." That reality, long known to those in the cockpit, now has the country's attention. In just six weeks, Uttarakhand has recorded five helicopter accidents — two of them fatal, others involving emergency landings and rotor damage — all on the Kedar route. In one case, a Kestrel Aviation helicopter crash-landed near a road after a mechanical failure, injuring the pilot and damaging a vehicle. This is not an outlier year. In 2022, an Aryan Aviation chopper crashed near Kedarnath, killing seven. In 2023, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) finance controller Amit Saini died after being struck by a tail rotor. And in 2013, a military rescue helicopter went down during flood relief, killing 20. The terrain is tough — but it is not the only challenge. The system built to manage it is, in many ways, still catching up to the traffic it supports. Pilgrimage flights have surged over the past decade, but the region lacks a dedicated air traffic control network. "There is no ATC control nor any weather station in these areas," said a veteran pilot. "Flying in the narrow valley from Gaurikund to Kedarnath needs a lot of experience and safety awareness, as there are no landing sites on this stretch that can be used in an emergency or bad weather." Another pilot added, "There is no information provided on routes where major helicopter operations take place. Till such time these issues can't be addressed, these operations should immediately be stopped. " This month, the civil aviation ministry suspended Aryan Aviation from Char Dham operations and grounded two TransBharat pilots who flew in unsuitable weather, suspending their licences for six months. UCADA — established by the state in 2013 to oversee civil aviation development and safety, including helipad infrastructure and coordination with private operators — has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review with all operators and setting up a command-and-control room to monitor real-time risks. DGCA has deployed officers to oversee safety, airworthiness and the functioning of the control centre. But many in the sector say these moves fall short. "It seems there are no checks and balances in place," said one chopper operator. "There is someone who replaced one inoperative part on a chopper with another inoperative part from another chopper to show that the part has been changed. Because of unscrupulous operators, conscientious operators and passengers are suffering." Others point to a deeper culture of pressure and compromise. "There have been five chopper crashes in the country within the last 1.5 months, which is the worst we have ever seen in helicopter operations in our country," said a senior pilot. "Char Dham operations are one of the toughest... yet we still fly as if nothing needs fixing." Another pilot was more direct: "We need a complete stop on chopper operations for this yatra season. All stakeholders — owners, pilots, commercial, engineers, DGCA and UCADA — need to look within and change." One added, simply, "It's greed. That's what's driving this. Not safety."
Time of India
2 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Toddler among 7 killed as Kedarnath chopper crashes amid bad weather
Toddler among 7 killed as Kedarnath chopper crashes amid bad weather (Photo: PTI) DEHRADUN: A helicopter carrying seven people - a toddler, five pilgrims and the pilot - crashed near Gaurikund on Kedarnath route around 5.40 am Sunday, killing all occupants. The Bell 407 chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation, caught fire after the crash, leaving the bodies charred. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will lead the inquiry into the crash, the second fatal air accident during this year's Char Dham Yatra. On May 8, six people died in a crash near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district. The helicopter, bearing registration number VT-BKA, had taken off from Kedarnath at 5.18 am and likely ran into dense clouds 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 member from Ukhimath; 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 Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Rescue teams from SDRF and NDRF reached the densely forested crash site, navigating thick fog and challenging terrain. All seven bodies were recovered. District disaster management officer N K Rajwar said, "It seems weather changed suddenly, creating foggy conditions that caused the chopper to lose its course, leading to the accident."
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Uttarakhand CM briefs PM Modi, Amit Shah, Aviation Minister on Rudraprayag chopper crash
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 16 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on the tragic helicopter crash in Rudraprayag that claimed the lives of all seven people on board. A high-level meeting was convened immediately after the crash, he said. In a post on X, CM Dhami stated, 'Honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji, during his foreign visit, held a telephonic conversation from Cyprus and obtained detailed information regarding the Rudraprayag helicopter accident. During the conversation, the Prime Minister expressed deep condolences for those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.' 'He (PM Modi) was also informed about the important decisions taken in the high-level meeting convened immediately after the accident. In relation to this unfortunate incident, a detailed briefing was also given via telephone to Honourable Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji and Honourable Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri @RamMNKJi. The central leadership has assured all possible assistance,' CM Dhami wrote Five adults, one infant and one crew member were on board the Aryan Aviation's Bell 407 helicopter operating in the 'Shri Kedarnath Ji - Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi' sector that crashed on Sunday, the Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement. The helicopter took off from Guptkashi at 05:10 am and landed at Shri Kedarnath Ji Helipad at 05:18 am before departing again at 05:19 am for Guptkashi and is reported to have crashed near Gaurikund between 05:30 am and 05:45 am, the statement said. The ministry said that preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause of the crash may be Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area. The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Rescue operations by NDRF and SDRF teams are currently underway at the crash site. Following the incident, a high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami at 11 am attended by senior officials of the Government of Uttarakhand, Secretary (Civil Aviation), DGCA, and associated teams. In the meeting immediate actions have been taken, which include suspending all operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra with immediate effect. Two helicopters belonging to TransBharat Aviation --VT-TBC (PIC: Capt. Yogesh Grewal, CPL(H)-1453) and VT-TBF (PIC: Capt. Jitender Harjai, CPL(H)-1046)--were found to have been airborne under similar unsuitable weather conditions. Accordingly, the licenses of both pilots have been suspended for six months. All charter and shuttle helicopter operations in the region have also been suspended on June 15-16, as a safety precaution. The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority has been directed to hold a comprehensive review with all operators and pilots before any resumption of services, to ensure full alignment with safety protocols. UCADA will also establish a dedicated Command-and-Control Room to monitor real-time operations and ensure immediate escalation of any risk indicators. Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been directed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, to immediately post officers from Airworthiness, Safety, and Operations to actively oversee all helicopter activity in the Kedarnath valley and rigorously review the functioning of the UCADA Command-and-Control Room. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has reiterated that aviation safety is non-negotiable and that no operator should undertake flights in violation of weather-related and other protocols. The Ministry has issued strict instructions to DGCA to enforce all extant provisions with full authority and to ensure that discipline in flying operations is maintained at all costs, given the sanctity of human life. (ANI)
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Two Aryan Aviation officials booked after Rudraprayag helicopter crash kills seven
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 15 (ANI): Following the helicopter crash in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district that claimed seven lives, a case has been registered against two officials of Aryan Aviation, the company that operated the helicopter, officials said on Sunday. Police have filed a case against Kaushik Pathak, the Accountable Manager, and Vikas Tomar, the Manager of Aryan Aviation, under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 10 of the Aircraft Act, they said. Section 105 pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while Section 10 deals with penalties for violating aircraft safety regulations. Aryan Aviation's Bell 407 helicopter operating in the 'Shri Kedarnath Ji - Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi' sector crashed near Gaurikund, according to a statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The helicopter took off from Guptkashi at 05:10 am and landed at Shri Kedarnath Ji Helipad at 05:18 am before departing again at 05:19 am for Guptkashi and is reported to have crashed near Gaurikund between 05:30 am and 05:45 am, the statement said. The ministry said that preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause of the crash may be Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area. The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The crash resulted in the deaths of all seven people on board, including five adults, one infant, and one crew member. Following the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to express their condolences and offer full support from the Centre. According to an official statement from the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's office, CM Dhami informed the Prime Minister that a high-level meeting was held immediately after the incident and instructions were given to probe the incident. 'Prime Minister prayed for the strength to bear this loss to the families of the deceased. He assured all possible cooperation from the central government. Chief Minister Dhami informed the Prime Minister that a high-level meeting had been held immediately after the incident. Instructions have been given to constitute a high-level inquiry committee to thoroughly investigate the causes of the accident. Also, a Command and Coordination Centre will be set up for better coordination and quick action,' as per a statement from the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's office. (ANI)
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
7 People, Including a 2-Year-Old, Killed in Helicopter Crash in India, Just Days After Air India Tragedy
A helicopter carrying a number of people to holy sites in the Himalayan mountains in India has crashed, killing seven people A 2-year-old child was among the passengers on the Bell 407 helicopter when it went down in a forested area Sunday's crash comes just days after a London-bound Air India plane crashed shortly after takeoff, killing nearly all of its passengersSeven people have died in a helicopter crash in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. According to the BBC, a helicopter carrying visitors to a number of Hindu religious pilgrimage sites in the Himalayan mountains crashed on Sunday, June 15, during what would have been a 10-minute flight. Per the Associated Press, the helicopter, which was being operated by private helicopter service company Aryan Aviation, took off at 5:19 a.m. local time and went down in a forested area at around 5:30 a.m. Officials told the outlets that investigators currently believe the crash was caused by poor weather conditions. The helicopter was a Bell 407, a four-blade, single-engine vessel made for civilian use, according to reports. The BBC reported that the helicopter's pilot and a 2-year-old child were among those killed, per the directorate general of civil aviation. The vessel's passengers included residents from the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh, as well as the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, per the AP. All of the bodies were badly burned in a fire following the crash. Officials said that India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate the incident. Local official Nandan Singh Rajwar told the AP that authorities have also launched a rescue and search operation. "The helicopter accident in Rudraprayag is extremely unfortunate," Pushkar Singh Dhami, the chief minister of Uttarakhand, wrote in Hindi in a statement on X. "I express my deepest condolences to the deceased in this painful accident." "... A high level meeting was held with all the concerned departments at the Government House to thoroughly review this accident," the minister added. "The safety procedures of helicopter operations are being closely examined." The BBC reported that the country's Civil Aviation Ministry suspended the operations of Aryan Aviation, per the Press Trust of India. The company did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. The region is home to one of the four most sacred Hindu holy sites, and tens of thousands of visitors make a pilgrimage — called the Char Dham Yatra — to the temples each summer, according to the AP. The mountainous terrain is also known for being extremely difficult to navigate due to its sudden weather changes and high altitude. The outlet reported that Sunday's crash was the fifth in the area since April 30. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been asked to oversee all helicopter activity in the region following Sunday's crash, per the AP. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Sunday's crash also comes just days after a London-bound Air India crashed shortly after takeoff, killing nearly all of its passengers. The plane, which was flying from Ahmedabad in western India and was bound for London's Gatwick Airport, crashed into a residential area five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time on Thursday, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, told the AP. The passengers included Indian, British and Portuguese nationals, as well as one person from Canada. Air India has not released an official number of people who have died from the crash, but CNN estimated that the death toll has risen to more than 290 people. The BBC reported that officials say there was at least one confirmed survivor of the crash, who was traveling in seat 11A on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flight. Read the original article on People
