Kedarnath Chopper Crash: AAIB Interim Report Confirms No Abnormalities During Take-Off

The last communication from the pilot of a helicopter that crashed near Kedarnath valley in June was, "Cannot see anything, turning...". This tragic accident resulted in the deaths of all seven people onboard. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) interim report revealed that clouds covered the valley exit during the crash.

The Bell 407 helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, took off from Kedarnath helipad and crashed at 5:35 am on June 15. It was destroyed by fire before reaching Guptkashi helipad. The crash occurred near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand, claiming the lives of the pilot, five passengers, and an infant.

Clouds Obstructed Valley Exit

CCTV footage analysis showed that clouds covered the valley exit point during the accident. Two other helicopters behind VT-BKA managed to exit the valley at a lower altitude, avoiding the clouds. The AAIB report noted that VT-BKA maintained an altitude of 9,000 feet while approaching the valley exit.

According to procedures, helicopters should maintain an altitude of 8,500 feet when entering and 9,000 feet when exiting Kedarnath valley. The AAIB report confirmed no abnormalities during VT-BKA's takeoff and entry into the valley.

Investigation and Safety Measures

The AAIB is collaborating with US and Canadian regulators to determine the accident's cause. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) have appointed representatives for this investigation. A technical advisor from Bell Helicopters examined wreckage parts in Dehradun, identifying damage as consequential due to terrain impact.

Aryan Aviation's operations team spoke with another helicopter pilot, VT-TBC, who reported that VT-BKA's pilot mentioned seeing clouds at the exit point before losing visibility. No distress call was made by VT-BKA after this communication.

Following this fatal incident, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) updated its safety measures for Char Dham operations in September. These updates include enhanced safety protocols for Kedarnath shuttle flights to prevent similar accidents in the future.

With inputs from PTI