- Recent helicopter crash near Joshimath raises Uttarakhand safety concerns.
- State has long history of chopper accidents on pilgrimage routes.
- Challenging Himalayan terrain, weather impact flight operations.
The latest helicopter crash near Joshimath in Uttarakhand has once again brought the safety of chopper operations in the Himalayan state under scrutiny. A helicopter travelling from Badrinath to Dehradun crashed near Chaien village in Chamoli district on Friday, October 30, amid poor weather conditions. The incident comes after several helicopter accidents, emergency landings and fatal crashes in the state, particularly along the Kedarnath and Char Dham pilgrimage routes.
Six people, including five passengers and a pilot, were on board the helicopter operated by Trans Bharat Aviation. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the accident and said a joint rescue operation involving the district administration, disaster management department and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was underway.
"We have received the unfortunate news of a helicopter crash near Chaien village, close to Joshimath. A joint rescue operation is being conducted by the district administration, disaster management department, and SDRF. I am continuously monitoring the entire incident. Instructions have been given to immediately airlift the seriously injured to higher centres for better treatment," CM Dhami said in a post on X.
Recommended For You
The Chamoli district administration said smoke was seen rising near Chaien village after the helicopter went missing. Officials also assigned additional helicopters to assist in the search and rescue operation. Initial reports said officials were assessing the condition of all six people on board.
Major Helicopter Crashes In Uttarakhand: A Timeline
Uttarakhand has witnessed several helicopter-related accidents over the years, with the 2013 Kedarnath disaster and the multiple incidents reported during the 2025 Char Dham Yatra among the major events. Here is a look at some of the significant crashes and accidents reported in the state.
October 6, 2026: Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing In Rudraprayag Amid Bad Weather
A helicopter of Himalayan Heli Services had to make a safe emergency landing at Agastyamuni playground in Rudraprayag district on October 6, 2026, following bad weather conditions during the flight.
The helicopter was flying from Jhala in Uttarkashi to Shersi helipad. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at the playground due to bad weather, and six pilgrims were on board; all managed to escape.
This incident happened during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, when the weather changed in the Kedar Valley.
May 11, 2026: Two Helicopters Make Emergency Landings In Rudraprayag
On May 11, 2026, two helicopters flying on the Char Dham routes were compelled to make emergency landings at Agastyamuni Sports Ground in Rudraprayag district due to a sudden change in weather, which led to thick fog between Guptkashi and Ukhimath.
One helicopter was flying from Badrinath to Sersi, while the other was flying from Dehradun to Phata. The pilots of both helicopters chose to carry out precautionary landings rather than fly in bad visibility.
District officials said both helicopters flew out safely once weather conditions improved. There were no injuries.
June 15, 2025: Kedarnath Helicopter Crash Kills Seven
A helicopter, flying by Aryan Aviation, crashed at Gaurikund, the district headquarters of Rudraprayag, on June 15, 2025. All seven people on the helicopter, including the pilot, were killed in the crash.
The Bell 407 helicopter was ferrying passengers between Kedarnath and Guptkashi. It had taken off from Guptkashi at 5:10 am, reaching Kedarnath at 5:18 am and taking off for its return journey at 5:19 am. It went down near Gaurikund between 5:30 am and 5:45 am.
According to an initial report by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, abnormally low visibility and thicker cloud cover, especially in the valley, were found to be a possible cause of the accident. An investigation was carried out by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
May 17, 2025: Air Ambulance Helicopter Crash-Lands Near Kedarnath
An air ambulance helicopter operated by Pinnacle Air met with an accident near the Kedarnath helipad on May 17, 2025.
The Airbus AS350B2 helicopter was operating a flight from AIIMS Rishikesh to Kedarnath to airlift an ailing pilgrim. It made a precautionary landing at the Lower Kedarnath helipad, during which its tail boom became detached.
The pilot, a doctor and a medical staff member escaped without injuries. The incident was subsequently investigated by the AAIB.
May 8, 2025: Six Killed As Helicopter En Route To Gangotri Crashes Near Gangnani
A helicopter of Aerotrans Services Private Limited had crashed in jungles near Gangnani village of Uttarkashi district on May 8, 2025, resulting in six deaths, including the pilot, while one person was critically injured.
The Bell 407 helicopter was flying from Kharsali to Jhala after taking off from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun. The helicopter had crashed in a gorge on the Uttarkashi-Gangotri road (NH-34) at approximately 8.35 am.
The initial investigation report by AAIB released in July 2025 stated that the main rotor blade of the helicopter hit an overhead fibre-optic cable installed along the roadside. The pilot was attempting to land the helicopter on the highway near Gangnani after descending from the assigned altitude.
Unable to make the landing, the helicopter rolled down the hillside and finally came to rest against a tree about 250 feet below the roadway.
The injured passenger was evacuated by air to AIIMS Rishikesh for treatment. Following the accident, the authorities examined the safety protocols for helicopter services during the pilgrimage season.
May 24, 2024: Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing On Kedarnath Route
A helicopter travelling from Sirsi to Kedarnath made an emergency landing on May 24, 2024, after encountering a technical problem during the flight.
All people on board escaped unharmed. The incident was among the helicopter-related emergency landings reported along the pilgrimage route.
April 23, 2023: UCADA Official Dies After Being Hit By Helicopter Rotor
Amit Saini, the finance controller of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), died after being struck by a helicopter's tail rotor at Kedarnath on April 23, 2023.
The incident took place while Saini was boarding the helicopter. He sustained fatal injuries after coming into contact with the rotating tail rotor.
October 18, 2022: Kedarnath Helicopter Crash Kills Seven
A helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation crashed near Garud Chatti, around two kilometres from Kedarnath, on October 18, 2022.
The helicopter was carrying six pilgrims and a pilot when it crashed while travelling towards Guptkashi. All seven people on board were killed.
Poor visibility and challenging weather conditions were reported in the region at the time of the accident.
August 21, 2019: Rescue Helicopter Crash In Arakot Kills Three
A helicopter engaged in rescue operations in Uttarkashi's Arakot area crashed near Moldi village on August 21, 2019.
The helicopter, operated by Heritage Aviation, was involved in relief work following heavy rainfall and flooding in the region. Three people, including the pilot, were killed.
Two days later, another helicopter made an emergency landing in the Arakot area, leaving the pilot injured.
April 3, 2018: Army Helicopter Crashes Near Kedarnath
An Indian Army helicopter met with an accident near Kedarnath on April 3, 2018. The aircraft caught fire during landing after reportedly coming into contact with power lines.
One person was killed, while three others sustained injuries.
June 10, 2017: Badrinath Helicopter Accident Kills Engineer
A helicopter operated by Kestrel Aviation met with an accident during take-off at Badrinath Dham on June 10, 2017.
The incident claimed the life of a chief engineer, while two pilots sustained injuries. The helicopter was scheduled to fly towards Haridwar.
June-July 2013: Multiple Helicopter Crashes During Kedarnath Rescue Operations
The devastating Uttarakhand floods in June 2013 led to large-scale rescue operations, with helicopters deployed to evacuate people stranded in Kedarnath and other flood-hit areas. Several helicopter accidents were reported during the operations.
On June 21, 2013, a private helicopter operated by Prabhatam Aviation crashed near Rambara during rescue operations, with casualties reported as unclear in initial accounts.
On June 25, an Indian Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopter crashed near Gaurikund while undertaking flood relief operations. The accident killed 20 people, including military personnel, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and civilians.
ALSO READ: Dehradun-Bound Helicopter With 6 Onboard Crashes Near Joshimath Amid Bad Weather; Casualties Feared
Another private helicopter carrying relief supplies crashed in the Kedarnath valley on July 24, 2013, killing the pilot and co-pilot.
Earlier in June 2013, a helicopter involved in rescue operations in the Kedarnath region also crashed, killing the pilot.
Why Are Helicopter Accidents Frequent In Uttarakhand?
The terrain of Uttarakhand poses severe challenges for flying helicopters. Many important pilgrimage places, including Kedarnath, are situated high up in the mountains in the midst of narrower valleys.
Visibility, traffic changes, bad weather, clouds and strong winds can also impact flight operations. Technical problems and operational difficulties have also been part of past accidents.
The series of events has raised fears about the safety of the flights, the weather, and the regulatory oversight of helicopter operators during the Char Dham Yatra season.