Uttarakhand Uproar: Helicopter Crash Claims Seven Lives Amid Aviation Alarm
A passenger helicopter en route from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi crashed in India’s Uttarakhand state, killing all seven onboard. The tragedy occurred on the morning of June 15 in a forested area between Gaurikund and Sonprayag, a short 10-minute route. The helicopter belonged to Aryan Aviation.
According to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), the aircraft was carrying six pilgrims and a pilot. Among the deceased were five adults and a 23-month-old child. The passengers hailed from various Indian states, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Preliminary reports suggest that a combination of technical failure and adverse weather conditions may have caused the accident.
Indian news outlet NDTV reported that the helicopter lost control and crashed into the forest near Gaurikund. The incident took place around 5:20 AM.
Reacting to the incident, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Extremely painful news has been received about the helicopter accident in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration, and other rescue teams are working at the site. I pray for the safe rescue of all passengers.”
The crash marks the fifth helicopter-related incident in the past six weeks since the Kedarnath temple gates opened for pilgrims on May 2 this year. On June 7, another helicopter flying towards Kedarnath was forced to make an emergency landing on a road due to a technical malfunction.
Meanwhile, following the June 13 crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered additional safety checks on all Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft in Air India’s fleet, especially those powered by GEnx engines. These checks include special takeoff inspections, electronic engine control tests, and engine fuel evaluations.
At a press briefing in Delhi, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated, “We have instructed enhanced inspections of all aircraft in the 787 series. There are 34 such planes in our fleet. Eight have already undergone inspections, and we are working to complete checks on the rest at the earliest.”
