Lok Sabha Question No. 1916 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-31
Subject: Helicopter Crash in Uttarakhand
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Janardan Singh Sigriwal, Com. Selvaraj V, Shri Subbarayan K

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1916 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  31st July 2025 )

## HELICOPTER CRASH IN UTTARAKHAND

1916.    SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL COM. SELVARAJ V SHRI SUBBARAYAN K Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether there has been a recent increase in the number of major air accidents in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any safety warnings or emergency incidents occurred shortly after  the  Air  India  Flight  crash  on  June  12,  2025  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether other recent air accidents such as the Uttarakhand helicopter crash on June 15, 2025 near Kedarnath have also occurred and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government/any concerned agency has conducted enquiry,  initiated  any  regulatory  review,  implemented  safety  measures, imposed  penalties or operational restrictions in response to these incidents and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  steps  taken  to  ensure  safe  operations  of  helicopter  services  in Uttarakhand region?

## ANSWER

Minister  of  State  in  the  Ministry  of  CIVIL  AVIATION            (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (c): There have been a total of 08 accidents (involving 1 scheduled aircraft, 3 trainee aircraft and 4 helicopters) reported in the year 2025 (till date). The details are attached at Annexure A. No such accident occurred after Uttarakhand helicopter crash on 15 June, 2025.;

; Post AI-171 accident on 12.06.2025 at Ahmedabad, one case of emergency landing was reported on 27.06.2025, where Indigo flight 6E-1014 (Singapore-Delhi) was diverted and landed safely at Kuala Lumpur. Later on, warning was found to be spurious.; ; (d) & (e): Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) carried out Special Audit  of  Uttarakhand  Civil  Aviation  Development  Authority  (UCADA)  and Helicopter Operators from 12.06.2025 to 22.06.2025.; ; Vide  DGCA  order  dated  15.06.2025,  the  approval  granted  for  helicopter operations  of M/s Aryan  Aviation in  the  state  of  Uttarakhand  was suspended, pending investigation.; ; DGCA has enforced safety measures on UCADA and Helicopter Operators for  suitable  parking  arrangement,  helicopter  maintenance,  marking  at helipads,  barricading  of  the  movement  area,  access  control,  passenger movement, slot allocations, pilot training, and ensuring strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).;

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## Annexure A

## Details of Accidents to Indian Civil Registered Aircraft for the year 2025

| S . N o .   | Da te         | Pla ce        | Ai rc ra ft Ty pe   | Ai rc ra ft R e g   | Operat or Name                           | Brief Description of event                                                                                                                                                                                |
|-------------|---------------|---------------|---------------------|---------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1 .         | 31 - M ar- 25 | Me hs an a    | C es sn a 15 2      | V T- P B A          | Blue Ray Aviatio n Pvt. Ltd.             | During Solo flight the trainee pilot declared low fuel levels followed by loss of RPM. Thereafter aircraft landed approximately 5 miles from Mehsana. RH wing leading edge tip was substantially damaged. |
| 2 .         | 22 - Ap r- 25 | Am reli       | Te en a m 20 08 J C | V T- V D F          | Vision Flying Trainin g Instit ute       | During a solo circuit and landing flight by a trainee, the aircraft crashed during the fifth circuit in a field. The aircraft caught fire and was burnt.                                                  |
| 3 .         | 4- M ay - 25  | Ali gar h     | Di a m on d D A 40  | V T- P N H          | Pionee r Flying Acade my Pvt. Ltd.       | The aircraft during landing bounced and subsequently exited the runway and hit the boundary wall during solo flight. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.                                           |
| 4 .         | 8- M ay - 25  | Utt ark as hi | B ell 40 7          | V T- O X F          | Aerotra ns Aviatio n Service s Pvt. Ltd. | Helicopter was involved in an accident while operating a charter flight from Kharsali helipad to Jhala helipad.                                                                                           |

| S . N o .   | Da te          | Pla ce                 | Ai rc ra ft Ty pe      | Ai rc ra ft R e g   | Operat or Name              | Brief Description of event                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|-------------|----------------|------------------------|------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5 .         | 17 - M ay - 25 | Ke dar nat h Hel ipa d | Ai rb us A S 35 0 B 2  | V T- K B S          | Pinnacl e Air Pvt. Ltd.     | Helicopter was involved in an accident while operating an aero- ambulance flight from AIIMS, Rishikesh to kedarnath. Helicopter made a precautionary landing at the Lower KedarnathJi Helipad and in the process tail boom of the aircraft got separated. |
| 6 .         | 07 - Ju n- 25  | Se rsi                 | Le on ar do A W 11 9   | V T- R N K          | Kestrel Aviatio n Pvt. Ltd. | The helicopter was operating shuttle services. The Helicopter took off from badasu (sersi) helipad and landed immediately at main road just below the helipad.                                                                                            |
| 7 .         | 12 - Ju n- 25  | Ah me da ba d          | B oe in g B 78 7- 90 0 | V T- A N B          | Air India Limited           | Shortly after take-off at Ahmedabad, aircraft crashed into building of the BJ medical college in the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad.                                                                                                                      |
| 8 .         | 15 - Ju n- 25  | Ga uri Ku nd           | B ell 40 7             | V T- B K A          | Aryan Aviatio n Pvt. Ltd    | Helicopter crashed while carrying out shuttle services from Kedarntah to Guptakashi in bad weather.                                                                                                                                                       |

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