Following the lethal helicopter crash in Uttarakhand that claimed seven lives early Sunday, All Char Dham Yatra operations of the ill-fated chopper’s operator Aryan Aviation have been suspended with instant impact, as preliminary indications counsel that the helicopter was airborne in poor visibility situations, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) stated in a launch. Moreover, all constitution and shuttle helicopter operations within the area have been suspended for Sunday and Monday “as a security precaution”.
These had been among the many selections that had been taken at a high-level assembly convened by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday. The assembly was attended by senior officers of the Authorities of Uttarakhand, and high officers from MoCA and India’s aviation security regulator Directorate Normal of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and different related groups.
Different selections embrace suspension of two helicopter pilots flying for different operators, instructions to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Improvement Authority (UCADA) to conduct an in depth assessment earlier than resumption of helicopter providers within the area, and institution of a devoted command-and-control room to watch real-time operations and guarantee instant escalation of any danger indicators.
“DGCA, has been directed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, to right away publish officers from Airworthiness, Security, and Operations (sections) to actively oversee all helicopter exercise within the Kedarnath valley and rigorously assessment the functioning of the UCADA Command-and-Management Room,” the MoCA launch stated.
Even earlier than Sunday’s tragic crash, there have been a number of incidents involving helicopters in Char Dham Yatra over the previous couple of months. As a precautionary measure, the DGCA had already diminished the frequency of helicopter operations to Char Dham and was finishing up the improved surveillance and reviewing operations for additional motion. Earlier this week, the DGCA had suspended the operations of an operator—Kestrel Aviation—in Uttarakhand. One other helicopter operator’s operations had been suspended final month.
Aryan Aviation’s Bell 407 helicopter—bearing registration VT-BKA—working the sector Shri Kedarnath Ji–Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi was concerned in a tragic accident early Sunday. There have been 5 passengers, one toddler, and one crew member on board, all of whom died within the crash. The helicopter took off from Guptkashi at 05:10 am and landed at Shri Kedarnath Ji Helipad at 05:18 am. It departed once more at 05:19 Hrs for Guptkashi and is reported to have crashed close to Gaurikund between 05:30–05:45 am.
“Preliminary indications counsel that the possible trigger could also be Managed Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne regardless of poor visibility and intensive clouding on the valley entry space. The precise trigger can be decided via an in depth investigation by the Plane Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB),” MoCA stated.
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Other than suspension of operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra with instant impact, two pilots working for TransBharat Aviation had been suspended for six months as their helicopters had been discovered to be airborne underneath “related unsuitable climate situations”.
“All constitution and shuttle helicopter operations within the area have been suspended on fifteenth and sixteenth June 2025 as a security precaution. UCADA has been directed to carry a complete assessment with all operators and pilots earlier than any resumption of providers, to make sure full alignment with security protocols,” MoCA stated.
Based on the discharge, MoCA reiterated that aviation security “is non-negotiable and that no operator ought to undertake flights in violation of weather-related and different protocols”. The ministry has issued strict directions to DGCA to implement all security provisions with full authority and be sure that self-discipline in flying operations is maintained “in any respect prices, given the sanctity of human life”.
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