UTTARAKHAND (CONVERSEER) – India has suffered a second aviation disaster in less than a week after a helicopter crashed in the northern state of Uttarakhand on Sunday, killing all seven people on board, including a two-year-old child and the pilot.
The tragedy comes just days after an Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad, claiming 270 lives in the country’s worst aviation disaster in years.
According to the BBC, the Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter was operating along the Char Dham pilgrimage route, flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi, when it lost contact shortly after takeoff. The aircraft later went down near Gaurikund, a busy pilgrimage site nestled in the Himalayan foothills.
Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were immediately deployed to the crash site. All six passengers and the pilot were confirmed dead, and their bodies have since been recovered, officials said.
The incident follows the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight AI171 on Thursday, which plunged into a residential area shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London.
The crash killed 270 people, including several on the ground, and left only one survivor. The aircraft struck a hospital building, prompting widespread devastation and ongoing DNA testing to identify the victims.
In response to the latest helicopter crash, Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has suspended all helicopter services on the Char Dham route with immediate effect. The suspension will remain in place pending an emergency review of operational compliance, pilot credentials, and safety procedures for flights in mountainous terrain.
“There have been three emergency landings and two crashes in just six weeks. We cannot take any more chances,” said Bansidhar Tripathi, Director-General of Information for Uttarakhand.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has come under increasing scrutiny following the back-to-back tragedies. Aviation experts and lawmakers are now calling for urgent reforms to enhance flight safety standards across the country.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the investigations into both incidents. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder—commonly known as the black box—from the Air India crash have already been recovered. Investigators hope the data will provide crucial insight into the cause of the crash.
An official inquiry has also been ordered into the helicopter accident, with authorities seeking to determine whether adverse weather, mechanical failure, or human error played a role.
“This is a time of deep sorrow. We must identify any lapses and ensure accountability. The lives lost must not be in vain,” said Chief Minister Dhami in a statement.
The back-to-back incidents have raised alarm across India’s aviation sector, prompting calls for immediate action to prevent further tragedies.
