Prashnavachak News
On June 15, 2025, an Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter (Reg. VT-BKA) crashed tragically near Gaurikund between 05:30–05:45 hrs while returning from Shri Kedarnath Ji to Guptkashi, carrying five passengers, one infant, and a crew member. The chopper had taken off from Guptkashi at 05:10 hrs, landed at Kedarnath Helipad at 05:18 hrs, and departed again at 05:19 hrs before losing contact. Preliminary signs point to Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) due to poor visibility and dense clouding at the valley’s entry zone, although the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will conduct a full investigation to determine the exact cause. Rescue operations by NDRF and SDRF are ongoing at the crash site. In immediate response, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a high-level meeting at 11:00 hrs with officials from the State Government, Civil Aviation Ministry, DGCA, and others. As a result, Aryan Aviation’s operations for Char Dham Yatra have been suspended with immediate effect, and licenses of two TransBharat Aviation pilots—Capt. Yogesh Grewal (VT-TBC) and Capt. Jitender Harjai (VT-TBF)—have been suspended for six months for flying during similarly unsuitable weather. All charter and shuttle helicopter services have been halted on 15th and 16th June across the region as a safety precaution. Furthermore, UCADA has been ordered to conduct a detailed safety review with all operators and pilots before any resumption of flights, and to set up a dedicated Command-and-Control Room to monitor real-time aviation operations and escalate risks immediately. The DGCA has deployed officers from Airworthiness, Safety, and Operations divisions to oversee helicopter activity in the Kedarnath valley and to ensure that the UCADA Command Room functions effectively. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has strongly reiterated that aviation safety is non-negotiable, and has directed DGCA to strictly enforce all existing flight, weather, and safety regulations, emphasizing that no compromise will be tolerated in a region where human life and pilgrimage sanctity are at stake.
