Gaurikund, Rudraprayag | June 15, 2025
In the aftermath of the tragic helicopter crash near Kedarnath that claimed seven lives—including an infant—a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against officials of Aryan Aviation, the operator of the ill-fated chopper.
FIR Details: Violation of Slot Timing and SOP
The FIR has been lodged at Sonprayag Police Station against two Aryan Aviation officials:
- Kaushik Pathak – Accountable Manager
- Vikas Tomar – Operations Manager
The FIR states that Aryan Aviation was allotted a flight slot between 6 AM and 7 AM on June 15. However, the Bell 407 helicopter took off at 5:30 AM, violating the scheduled slot. As per Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), pre-flight weather assessments are mandatory—especially critical in mountain regions.
Despite clouds and dense fog reported in the valley, the flight was cleared and operated, allegedly without proper weather clearance. The FIR holds the managers criminally liable, stating:
“It is clear from the accident that Aryan Aviation and its officials did not follow the SOP issued by DGCA and UCADA, and showed gross negligence towards their duties, due to which the above accident occurred. Manager Vikas Tomar and accountable manager Kaushik Pathak are responsible for the death of 7 people.”
The FIR has been filed under:
- BNS Section 105 – Culpable homicide not amounting to murder
- Section 10 of the Aircraft Act, 1934 – Penalties for violating aviation rules
Crash Overview
The Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter crashed at around 5:35 AM in the Gauri Mai Khark area above Gaurikund, shortly after departing from Kedarnath for Guptkashi. The crash killed all seven onboard, including:
- Five adult passengers
- A 23-month-old infant
- The pilot, Captain Rajeev
Probable Cause: Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT)
Preliminary investigations suggest that the crash may have resulted from Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)—a situation where an airworthy aircraft, under pilot control, unintentionally crashes into terrain due to poor visibility or misjudgment.
The final cause will be determined by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
Crackdown on Aviation Safety Violations
In response to this and other recent aviation incidents:
- Licences of two TransBharat Aviation pilots were suspended for flying in similarly poor weather.
- All helicopter operations (charter and shuttle) in the Kedarnath region were suspended on June 15 and 16.
- Aryan Aviation’s Char Dham operations remain suspended until further notice.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed DGCA to deploy officers from Airworthiness, Safety, and Operations in Kedarnath valley for real-time oversight.
UCADA to Tighten Oversight and Establish Real-Time Monitoring
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has been tasked with:
- Conducting a comprehensive safety review with all operators and pilots.
- Establishing a dedicated Command-and-Control Room to monitor live operations.
- Ensuring real-time escalation of any safety lapses or weather threats.
Discover more from The Doon Mozaic
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
