A tragic helicopter crash in Uttarakhand on the morning of June 15, 2025, claimed seven lives, including an infant and the pilot. The incident occurred in the Kedarnath–Guptkashi sector, near Gaurikund, between 5:30 and 5:45 AM, likely due to poor weather conditions.
The helicopter had taken off from Guptkashi at 5:10 AM, briefly landed at Kedarnath at 5:18 AM, and departed again at 5:19 AM. Preliminary reports suggest Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) as the cause, due to low visibility and heavy cloud cover.
Rescue operations are underway by NDRF and SDRF teams. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami held an emergency meeting with officials from DGCA and the Civil Aviation Ministry.
In response:
- Aryan Aviation’s operations for the Char Dham Yatra have been suspended.
- Licenses of two TransBharat Aviation pilots were suspended for six months for flying in unsuitable weather.
- All helicopter operations in the region were halted on June 15 and 16.
- UCADA has been directed to conduct a comprehensive safety review and establish a real-time flight monitoring Command-and-Control Room.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation reiterated that aviation safety is paramount, directing DGCA to strictly enforce weather and operational protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
