The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) sprung into action against chartered helicopter services in Kedarnath after a helicopter crash killed all the seven people on-board on Sunday morning. The incident pushed the ministry to ban all shuttle helicopter services in the region for two days, suspend flying licenses of two pilots and order a comprehensive safety review with helicopter operators and pilots.
Just three days after the tragic accident of Air India’s flight AI-171, a chartered helicopter bearing registration number VT-BKA, which was providing air transport services between Guptkashi and Kedarnath Dham, crash landed near Gaurikund between 5.30am to 5.45am, while it was returning to Guptkashi. All the seven people on board, including a pilot and an infant passenger, were killed in the tragic crash.
According to MoCA, preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause may be Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area. The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
However, after a high-level meeting, convened by Uttarakhand chief minister, civil aviation secretary, director general of civil aviation and associated teams, all charter and shuttle helicopter services in the region were suspended for Sunday and Monday as a safety precaution. The Char Dham Yatra operations of Aryan Aviation, the operator of the crashed helicopter, were suspended with immediate effect and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) directed a comprehensive review of all operators and pilots before resumption of services in alignment with safety protocols.
Meanwhile, MoCA found two helicopters belonging to M/s TransBharat Aviation to have been airborne under similar unsuitable weather conditions. This led to the suspension of flying licenses of the pilots, Yogesh Grewal and Jitender Harjai, for six months. UCADA announced that it will establish a dedicated command-and-control room to monitor real-time operations and ensure immediate escalation of any risk indicators. The ministry directed DGCA to post airworthiness, safety and operations officers to oversee helicopter activity in Kedarnath valley and review the functioning of UCADA’s command-and-control room.
“The Ministry of Civil Aviation has reiterated that aviation safety is non-negotiable and that no operator should undertake flights in violation of weather-related and other protocols. The Ministry has issued strict instructions to DGCA to enforce all extant provisions with full authority and to ensure that discipline in flying operations is maintained at all costs, given the sanctity of human life,” said an official from MoCA.
