Seven people, including a pilot and a two-year-old child, have died in a helicopter crash in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. The aircraft, operated by Aryan Aviation, was flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi along the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage route when it went missing and was later found crashed near Gaurikund.
This is coming days after a Boeing jetliner travelling to London crashed killing more than 200 people.
Authorities confirmed that rescue teams were dispatched immediately and all bodies have been recovered. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will lead a probe into the incident.
The state’s chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, described the tragedy as “very sad news” and ordered a comprehensive inquiry. In the aftermath, all helicopter services along the Char Dham route have been suspended until further safety reviews and pilot verifications are completed.
This helicopter crash marks the second such incident in the region within two months and the third in the country, prompting officials to call for stricter safety protocols and centralized coordination of aviation operations in Uttarakhand.