Aryan Aviation operations, license of two pilots suspended after deadly Kedarnath helicopter crash

Jun 15, 2025 04:35 PM IST

Aryan Aviation operations suspended deadly Kedarnath helicopter crash: Aviation ministry

Operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra have been suspended with fast impact, Ministry of Civil Aviation mentioned on Sunday after a helicopter of the corporate crashed in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag, killing all seven individuals onboard.

NDRF and SDRF personnel on the spot after a helicopter crashed close to the Kedarnath shrine, in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, Sunday, June 15(@uksdrf)

The aviation ministry mentioned the helicopter was reportedly airborne regardless of poor climate situations.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation reiterated that aviation security “is non-negotiable and that no operator should undertake flights in violation of weather-related and other protocols”. 

Also Read: Kedarnath helicopter crash: Maharashtra couple, toddler die; son survives by staying again

“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),” the assertion learn.

Ministry of Civil Aviation mentioned that two helicopters belonging to M/s TransBharat Aviation—VT-TBC (PIC: Capt. Yogesh Grewal, CPL(H)-1453) and VT-TBF (PIC: Capt. Jitender Harjai, CPL(H)-1046)—”were found to have been airborne under similar unsuitable weather conditions”. 

Citing the above, the ministry mentioned licenses of each pilots have been suspended for six months.

Aryan Aviation’s Bell 407 helicopter (Reg. VT-BKA), working the sector “Shri Kedarnath Ji – Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi, crashed in a forest space in Rudraprayag on Sunday. There had been 5 passengers, one toddler, and one crew member on board, all of them died within the helicopter crash.

“The helicopter took off from Guptkashi at 05:10 Hrs and landed at Shri Kedarnath Ji Helipad at 05:18 Hrs. It departed again at 05:19 Hrs for Guptkashi and is reported to have crashed near Gaurikund between 05:30–05:45 Hrs,” the assertion learn.

The ministry additionally added that every one constitution and shuttle helicopter operations within the area have been suspended for June 15 and June 1 as a security precaution.

The helicopter crash comes days after an Air India flight to London crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 individuals on board and a number of other others on the bottom.