Kedarnath helicopter crash: Why are so many helicopter accidents happening on the Kedarnath route?
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kedarnath helicopter crash surge within weeks
Pilots fly 'by sight, by wind, by instinct'
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Operators demand tougher oversight
Regulators move, but critics say it is not enough
A series of five helicopter accidents in just six weeks on the Gaurikund‑to‑Kedarnath pilgrimage route has triggered an urgent safety review by regulators and operators, after two crashes proved fatal and three others caused emergency landings and major rotor damage.The Kedarnath sector sees some of India's most challenging commercial flying. Pilots rely almost completely on visual cues because the valley lacks air‑traffic control, weather stations and safe diversion sites. Industry voices now question whether Char Dham flights should continue until basic safety infrastructure is in place.The latest run of mishaps began with the crash‑landing of a Kestrel Aviation helicopter near a road, injuring the pilot. Two other aircraft suffered rotor strikes, and another required an emergency landing. These come on top of past tragedies: seven deaths in a 2022 crash, the 2023 tail‑rotor incident that killed Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) finance controller Amit Saini, and the 2013 military rescue crash that claimed 20 lives.Manoj Sharma, who regularly flies the Kedarnath route, told TOI, 'We are flying in one of the world's most unforgiving regions with very little real‑time weather support. Operations are being conducted on pilot observation and visual reference. The weather is unpredictable and changes rapidly.'A veteran colleague added, 'There is no ATC or weather station. Flying in the narrow valley from Gaurikund to Kedarnath needs experience and safety awareness, as there are no emergency landing sites.'Some operators accuse peers of cutting corners. 'There are no checks. Faulty parts are being swapped with others to show repairs. Conscientious operators and passengers suffer,' one operator said. A senior pilot called the recent rate of five crashes in 1.5 months 'the worst we've seen' and urged suspension of services this yatra season, claiming 'greed is driving it, not safety.'The civil aviation ministry has suspended Aryan Aviation, grounded two TransBharat pilots for flying in bad weather, and directed UCADA to set up a command‑and‑control room to coordinate flights. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has posted officers for on‑site oversight. Yet pilots insist that without real‑time weather data, route information and a formal air‑traffic system, risks will persist. 'No route info is provided. Until these issues are fixed, operations should be stopped,' one pilot warned.UCADA is reviewing operating procedures and exploring a dedicated Kedarnath flight management centre. In the meantime, pressure mounts for a temporary halt to commercial sorties. As one pilot summed up: 'Char Dham ops are among the toughest, but we fly like nothing's wrong.'(Inputs from TOI)
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