Following the Kedarnath helicopter crash, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The tragic accident claimed the lives of seven people. In response, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced the suspension of Aryan Aviation’s Char Dham yatra operations.
Key Details:
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PM Modi’s Condolences: PM Modi, currently in Cyprus, expressed his condolences over the phone to CM Dhami after the tragic incident in which seven people died in a helicopter crash near Kedarnath.
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Immediate Suspension of Operations: Following the crash, Aryan Aviation’s Char Dham helicopter services were immediately suspended.
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Temporary Ban on Helicopter Services: As a safety precaution, all charter and shuttle helicopter services in the area were suspended on June 15 and 16.
Preliminary Investigation Findings:
According to an official statement, initial investigations suggest that the crash was likely caused by the helicopter colliding with terrain despite being under control — a situation known as “Controlled Flight Into Terrain” (CFIT). This may have occurred due to poor visibility and dense cloud cover near the valley.
Additional Measures and Responses:
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Hours after the crash, CM Dhami announced a two-day suspension of all helicopter services in the region, attributing the crash to severe weather conditions.
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The Bell 407 helicopter from Aryan Aviation was en route from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi with seven people onboard — five passengers, one infant, and one crew member — all of whom died in the crash.
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Speaking to ANI, CM Dhami confirmed that the crash was due to bad weather and that an emergency meeting was immediately convened.
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Two helicopters from Trans Bharat Aviation, operated by pilots Yogesh Grewal and Jitendra Harjai, were found flying in similar adverse weather conditions. As a result, both pilots had their licenses suspended for six months.
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All charter and shuttle helicopter operations in the area have been suspended as of June 15–16. The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has been directed to review operations with all operators and pilots before services can resume.
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The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also instructed the aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to deploy officials immediately to monitor airworthiness, safety, and operations. These officials will actively oversee all helicopter activities in the Kedarnath valley.