Uttarakhand’s skies turn deadly again: 5 crashes in 39 days last year, now 6 dead in Joshimath tragedy

DEHRADUN: The helicopter crash near Joshimath on Friday, in which all six people on board are dead, has once again raised questions over the safety of helicopter operations in Uttarakhand.

The state has witnessed a series of crashes, emergency landings and other incidents over the years, including multiple accidents on the Kedarnath route.

In 2025 alone, TOI flagged five crashes in 39 days, bringing the risks of flying in the region's difficult terrain into focus.

According to news agency PTI, an analysis by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) showed that there were nine occurrences, including eight accidents and one serious incident, in the Char Dham sector during the in 2015-2025 period, with at least one accident or serious incident every year from 2022 onwards.

Six dead near Joshimath

The Trans Bharat Aviation helicopter was flying from Badrinath to Sahastradhara in Dehradun when it lost communication while passing through Joshimath valley on Friday.

The wreckage was later found on a hillside near Chai village, close to the JP Power House, in Chamoli district.

Six people were on board: pilot Himanshu and passengers Prathapa, Arun, Shankar Gowda, Sudheer K and HS Natraja. All six are dead, news agency PTI reported.

UCADA chief executive officer Prateek Jain said the helicopter took off from Badrinath at 1.14 pm and could not be traced after it entered the Joshimath valley.

The entire fleet of Trans Bharat Aviation was grounded as a precautionary measure. Teams from the Army, Chamoli district administration and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were mobilised for the search and rescue operation.

Five crashes in 39 days in 2025

TOI reported that in just six weeks, Uttarakhand had recorded five helicopter accidents, two of them fatal, others involving emergency landings and rotor damage.

• May 8: An Aerotrans Aviation Bell 407 crashed in Uttarkashi, killing six people.
• May 17: A Pinnacle Air AS 350 B2 crashed at Kedarnath. There were no casualties.
• June 7: A Kestrel Aviation Augusta AW119 crash-landed near Sersi. There were no casualties.
• June 15: An Aryan Aviation Bell 407 crashed near Gaurikund, killing all seven people on board.

Separately, an earlier incident timeline records a May 12 emergency landing at Ukhimath school ground by a helicopter returning from Badrinath to Sersi. Poor visibility was cited and there were no casualties.

The incidents brought renewed attention to the risks of high-altitude flying, including unpredictable weather, technical faults, fog and visibility problems.

Kedarnath's history of fatal crashes

The latest crash is not the first time a helicopter accident has claimed lives. In October 2022, an Aryan Aviation Bell 407 crashed near Garud Chatti while flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi. The helicopter caught fire and all seven occupants, including the pilot, died.

In April 2023, UCADA finance controller Amit Saini died after being struck by a helicopter's tail rotor while approaching the aircraft for boarding at Kedarnath. DGCA also recorded an incident in June 2017, when a Kestrel Aviation helicopter crashed at Badrinath soon after takeoff. One occupant died after approaching the aircraft while its main rotor blades were still moving.

Other accidents in the region include a UTair India helicopter crash during takeoff at Badrinath in June 2017, which killed a flight engineer and injured the pilot, and a private helicopter crash in the Kedarnath valley in July 2013 that killed the pilot and co-pilot.

An IAF Mi-17 V5 also crashed during flood rescue operations near Gaurikund in June 2013, killing 20 people, including military personnel, NDRF personnel and civilians. Further incidents were recorded in 2019, including a heavy landing at Kedarnath after a helicopter lost directional control during takeoff, and a cable strike during relief operations in Uttarkashi that seriously injured the pilot.

No radar, limited weather support

The difficult terrain is not the only challenge facing helicopter operations in the region. Pilots have previously flagged the lack of dedicated air traffic control facilities and weather stations along key routes.

In June 2025, pilot Manoj Sharma told TOI that flying in the Kedarnath sector relied heavily on visual references and pilot observation because of limited real-time weather support. He said weather conditions in the region could change rapidly.

A veteran pilot also pointed to the absence of ATC facilities and weather stations, saying flying through the narrow valley between Gaurikund and Kedarnath required considerable experience and safety awareness.

Pilots have also flagged the absence of emergency landing sites along the stretch, leaving limited options if weather deteriorates or a technical problem develops.

Following the 2025 incidents, the civil aviation ministry suspended Aryan Aviation from Char Dham operations and grounded two TransBharat pilots for flying in unsuitable weather. Their licences were suspended for six months.

UCADA was tasked with reviewing operations with helicopter operators and setting up a command-and-control room to monitor risks in real time.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also deployed officers to oversee safety, airworthiness and the functioning of the control centre.

However, pilots and operators have continued to raise concerns over checks and balances, maintenance practices and pressure to keep flights running despite difficult conditions.

Weather adds to safety concerns

The latest crash comes amid rain and snowfall in parts of Uttarakhand. Kedarnath Dham received the season's first heavy snowfall after continuous snowfall since Thursday.

Dr CS Tomar, director of the Meteorological Centre in Dehradun, said rainfall activity was likely to continue over the next few days, particularly in the hill districts.

Heavy rainfall was recorded at eight to nine places on October 29, especially in Uttarkashi, Tehri and Haridwar districts. Tomar said light to very light rain could continue at isolated places in the northern hill districts on November 1 and 2.

The weather conditions are an important operational concern, but the cause of Friday's crash has not yet been established.

Ahmedabad plane crash

The Uttarakhand crash also more than a year after the Air India flight AI171 disaster in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 274 people: 241 on board and 33 on the ground. One passenger survived.