Latest news with #YogeshGrewal
Mint
17 hours ago
- Mint
Aryan Aviation operations suspended for Char Dham Yatra after copter crash
Mumbai, Jun 15 (PTI) The government has suspended the operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra with immediate effect following the accident of one of the firm's helicopters in the Kedarnath region on Sunday morning, according to an official release. The helicopter took off from Guptkashi at 05:10 am and landed at Shri Kedarnath Ji Helipad at 05:18 am. It departed again at 05:19 am for Guptkashi and is reported to have crashed near Gaurikund between 05:30-05:45 am, the Civil Aviation Ministry said. There were five passengers, one infant, and one crew member on board. Earlier the Uttarakhand government announced suspension of charter and shuttle helicopter operations in the region on June 15 and 16 as a safety precaution. Preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause may be Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area, the ministry said. The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), it added. It said that the DGCA has been directed by the Civil Aviation Ministry 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. Two helicopters belonging to TransBharat Aviation - VT-TBC with Yogesh Grewal as pilot in command and VT-TBF with ( Jitender Harjai as PIC were found to have been airborne under similar unsuitable weather conditions. Accordingly, the licenses of both pilots have been suspended for six months, the ministry said. Seven people were killed as a helicopter carrying them from the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand crashed early Sunday in the forests of Gaurikund amid poor visibility.
Hans India
a day ago
- General
- Hans India
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.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Aryan Aviation operations, license of 2 pilots suspended after fatal Kedarnath helicopter crash
Operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra have been suspended with immediate effect, Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Sunday after a helicopter of the company crashed in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag, killing all seven people onboard. 'Preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause 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 statement read. Two helicopters belonging to M/s 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, the civil aviation ministry said.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Aryan Aviation operations, license of 2 pilots suspended fatal Kedarnath helicopter crash: Aviation ministry
Operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra have been suspended with immediate effect, Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Sunday after a helicopter of the company crashed in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag, killing all seven people onboard. 'Preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause 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 statement read. Two helicopters belonging to M/s 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, the civil aviation ministry said.
