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Helicopter crash in Uttarakhand kills all onboard, including a two-year-old
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Comes three days after an India plan crash killed over 270 in residential crash
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Aviation authorities launch probes amid nationwide safety alarm.
India is battling a deepening aviation crisis following the crash of a Bell 407 helicopter in Uttarakhand early Saturday morning, claiming all seven lives on board — barely 72 hours after a separate passenger jet disaster killed more than 270 people in Ahmedabad.
The helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation and registered as VT-BKA, was flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi — a common pilgrimage route through the Himalayas — when it lost contact with air traffic control.
The crash involved five passengers, a pilot, and a two-year-old child, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Officials confirmed that no survivors were found.
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The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Department said the aircraft disappeared around 5:30 AM, triggering immediate search and rescue efforts.
“At around 5:30 AM, we got the information that a helicopter, which was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham, could not be located,” the department said in an official communication.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) described the crash as “very sad news,” adding that recovery operations were underway in collaboration with local authorities.
The latest crash has reignited national anger and alarm, as it occurred just three days after an India Air Boeing 787 jet crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad, killing more than 270 people.
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According to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, “270 bodies were brought in from the site.” One survivor from the plane crash remains hospitalised but is expected to recover.
“He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon,” hospital sources told the Associated Press.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal investigation into the helicopter crash, as aviation regulators come under pressure over repeated safety lapses.
Relatives of crash victims from the Ahmedabad incident have begun submitting DNA samples to assist in identification, while calls grow louder for systemic aviation reforms.
