NEW DELHI, Oct 30: At least six major helicopter accidents have been reported along the Char Dham pilgrimage routes in Uttarakhand since 2017, claiming 27 lives and raising concerns over aviation safety in the Himalayan region.
The latest incident occurred on Friday afternoon when a helicopter operated by Trans Bharat Aviation Pvt Ltd crashed into a hillside near Joshimath in Chamoli district, killing all six people on board.
The aircraft had taken off from Badrinath for Dehradun about an hour earlier when it met with the accident amid overcast conditions.
Helicopter operations during the annual Char Dham Yatra have frequently come under scrutiny following a series of accidents attributed to challenging terrain, unpredictable weather and operational shortcomings.
In July 2025, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation informed Parliament that four helicopter accidents had been reported along the Char Dham routes that year.
A parliamentary standing committee report presented on August 20, 2025, highlighted the risks associated with flying in the Himalayan region, including rapidly changing weather, difficult terrain and heavy helicopter traffic.
The panel also flagged the absence of mandatory, terrain-specific mountain-flying training and certification for pilots, along with a shortage of adequately trained personnel.
On August 6 this year, the ministry, responding to a question by BJP MP Anurag Thakur on helicopter accidents in the Himalayan region, cited several operational and regulatory deficiencies.
These included inadequate monitoring of pilots’ Flight Duty Time Limitations, lapses in implementing DGCA regulations, shortcomings in aircraft maintenance, failure to submit internal safety audit reports to the regulator and gaps in emergency response plans.
The following are some of the major helicopter accidents reported along the Char Dham routes since 2017:
June 10, 2017: An Agusta AW119 MK II helicopter operated by Kestrel Aviation Pvt Ltd crashed onto sloping terrain near the Badrinath helipad shortly after take-off while flying to Haridwar. One aircraft maintenance engineer died, while two pilots sustained minor injuries. Five pilgrims escaped unhurt.
October 18, 2022: A Bell 407 helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd crashed into a mountain ridge at Garud Chatti shortly after taking off from Kedarnath for Guptkashi. Deteriorating weather and descending clouds were reported. All seven occupants, including the pilot and six passengers, died.
May 8, 2025: A Bell 407 operated by Aero Trans Services Pvt Ltd crashed into a gorge near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district while conducting a Char Dham passenger service. The main rotor struck an overhead fibre-optic cable as the pilot attempted to descend towards the highway. Six people, including the pilot, died, while one passenger survived with serious injuries.
June 7, 2025: A Leonardo AW119 MK II helicopter operated by Kestrel Aviation Pvt Ltd lost height shortly after taking off from the elevated Sersi helipad for Kedarnath with five passengers. Its tail rotor struck the edge of the helipad, forcing the aircraft to crash-land on the road below. Nearby property was damaged, but no passengers died. The pilot sustained injuries.
June 15, 2025: A Bell 407 helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd crashed near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag while flying a Kedarnath-Guptkashi passenger shuttle service. The aircraft encountered extensive cloud cover and poor visibility near the valley exit. All seven occupants, including the pilot, five passengers and an infant, died.
October 30, 2026: A helicopter operated by Trans Bharat Aviation Pvt Ltd crashed into a hillside near Joshimath while flying from Badrinath to Dehradun. All six occupants died.