A helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation crashed near Gaurikund early Sunday morning while returning from Kedarnath to Guptkashi. The Bell 407 aircraft (Reg. VT-BKA) had five passengers, one infant, and a crew member on board. It had taken off from Guptkashi at 5:10 a.m., landed at Kedarnath at 5:18 a.m., and departed again at 5:19 a.m. before reportedly going down between 5:30 and 5:45 a.m.
Preliminary indications point to Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) as the likely cause, with poor visibility and dense clouding at the valley entry area cited as contributing factors. An investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is underway to determine the exact cause.
Rescue operations are in progress, with NDRF and SDRF teams deployed at the site. In response, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a high-level review meeting involving top officials from the Uttarakhand government, DGCA, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Immediate actions include the suspension of Aryan Aviation’s Char Dham services, grounding of all charter and shuttle operations in the region for June 15 and 16, and temporary license suspensions for two pilots from another operator who flew in similar unsafe conditions. Authorities have ordered a full safety review with all operators before any flights resume.
UCADA has been directed to establish a command-and-control room for real-time monitoring of helicopter operations, and DGCA has deployed officers to oversee safety, airworthiness, and flight operations in the region.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation reiterated that no flight should proceed in violation of weather-related or safety protocols. Aviation safety, it emphasized, remains non-negotiable.
