AAIB to Investigate Uttarakhand Helicopter Crash That Killed Six

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is set to investigate a helicopter crash in Joshimath, Uttarakhand, which resulted in the deaths of six people, including the pilot. According to a senior official who spoke to PTI, an AAIB team was dispatched to the crash site to examine the incident.

Incident Details and Flight Route

The reported crash involved a helicopter operated by Trans Bharat Aviation. According to reported details:

• The aircraft took off from Badrinath.
• It crashed into a hillside in Joshimath approximately an hour after departure.
• The flight was en route to Dehradun when the accident occurred.
• Badrinath is part of Uttarakhand's Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, which also includes Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Kedarnath.

Safety Concerns in the Char Dham Sector

The incident follows broader safety concerns regarding aviation in the Char Dham region. An investigation report released earlier this month by the AAIB noted that eight helicopter accidents occurred in the sector between 2015 and 2025.

Key findings from the AAIB analysis include:

• The bureau recorded nine total occurrences between 2015 and 2025, comprising eight accidents and one serious incident.
• At least one accident or serious incident has been reported annually since 2022.
• Out of the eight accidents, five were fatal.
• The AAIB's previous analysis attributed most of these accidents to flight crews failing to follow standard operating procedures.
• No accidents were reported in 2015, 2016, or during the COVID-19-limited years of 2020 and 2021.

Readers seeking to verify official updates can check statements directly from the AAIB or official civil aviation authorities in India.