Uttarakhand helicopter crash: Multi-agency probe launched; operator's entire fleet grounded
A multiple agency probe has been initiated on Friday following a tragic helicopter crash in Uttarakhand that claimed the lives of all six people on board, including the pilot and five pilgrims from Karnataka. Both the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have dispatched specialised investigative teams to Dehradun and the crash site near Chai village in Chamoli district. At the same time, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a detailed state-level investigation to examine every administrative and operational aspect of the disaster. Taking swift regulatory action, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) grounded the entire fleet of the operator, Trans Bharat Aviation Pvt. Ltd., pending the outcome of the multi-pronged enquiries.
How the tragedy unfolded in the hills
The chartered helicopter, an AS350B3 model bearing registration number VT-HCX, took off from the civil helipad at Badrinath at around 1:12 pm on Friday, bound for the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun. Barely two minutes into the flight, at 1:14 pm, the aircraft lost radar transmission and radio communication while navigating through the Joshimath valley. Personnel stationed at a nearby Army post observed the helicopter heading deep into the valley, roughly one kilometre above the Bhandakand Temple near Pandukeshwar.
Local authorities mobilised rapidly after receiving reports of smoke rising near Chai village. A multi-agency search operation—combining the Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and local police—was launched immediately, supported by aerial reconnaissance helicopters and a drone dispatched from Gopeshwar. Army personnel were the first to reach the high-altitude terrain near Hathi Pahar around 3:30 pm, where they confirmed the wreckage and found no survivors. Joint teams then began the arduous task of recovering the mortal remains from the rugged forest terrain to transport them down to Joshimath for post-mortem examinations.
Who were the victims on board
The crash claimed the life of the pilot, Captain Himanshu Sabharwal, a resident of Delhi, along with five passengers hailing from Karnataka. The deceased passengers were identified as Prathap, Arun Salunke, Shankaregowda, Sudheer K, and H.S. Nataraj.
Among those who lost their lives was Arun Salunke, a 2007-batch police officer serving as an Inspector with the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bengaluru. Salunke was travelling with his close friend Shankaregowda, a Bengaluru-based lawyer who hailed from Kunigal in Tumakuru district. Shankaregowda's neighbour in Tumakuru remembered him as a devout and community-minded individual.
"He hailed from Huliyurdurga in Kunigal and worked as a lawyer, frequently travelling to Bengaluru. Shankare Gowda was a friendly-natured person who had a good friendship with everyone and would readily respond to any problem in the area. He had immense devotion to God, fasted for nine days during Navratri, and would celebrate Ganpati and Diwali well," she recalled.
Political reactions and inter-state coordination
News of the tragedy triggered widespread grief across both Uttarakhand and Karnataka, prompting swift administrative coordination between the two states. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, directing the Chamoli district administration to ensure prompt relief and assistance to the bereaved families. In Karnataka, the Chief Minister's Office, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, and the Relief Commissioner established direct contact with Uttarakhand officials to oversee the recovery and transport of the bodies back to Karnataka.
Political leaders across parties extended condolences while emphasising the paramount importance of passenger safety during Himalayan air journeys. Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat stressed that commercial growth must not compromise aviation safeguards.
"It is very tragic. Our condolences go out to the families who have lost their loved ones. Along with making our air services competitive, we must also ensure they are safe," Rawat stated.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also posted messages expressing deep sorrow and praying for strength for the grieving families.
Broader air safety concerns in the Char Dham sector
This fatal accident has once again brought attention to the recurring safety challenges in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, which connects the holy shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. According to a safety analysis released earlier this month by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Char Dham region witnessed nine aviation occurrences—comprising eight accidents and one serious incident—between 2015 and 2025.
Five of these eight accidents proved fatal. Furthermore, official data highlights a disturbing pattern: at least one fatal accident or serious incident has occurred every single year in the sector since 2022. The AAIB report revealed that the primary factor in most of these crashes was the flight crew's non-adherence to standard operating procedures while operating in difficult mountain weather and terrain. As DGCA and AAIB investigators begin their on-site assessments, finding systemic solutions to enforce flight protocols will be crucial to prevent future tragedies in these high-altitude corridors.