As the Kedarnath pilgrimage season continues, serious concerns are being raised over the safety and management of helicopter services in the region. A tragic crash on June 15 in the Gaurikund forest, involving a helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation, has once again put the spotlight on the increasing negligence surrounding these aerial services.

All seven people on board, including the pilot and a child, lost their lives. The helicopter was flying from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi when it reportedly lost course due to adverse weather conditions and crashed shortly after takeoff at 5:17 am.

This marks the fifth helicopter crash in Uttarakhand in the past six weeks. In the aftermath of the latest accident, several eyewitnesses and passengers have come forward, recounting their own near-misses and raising questions over operational lapses.

Prashant Patil, Rahul Kirad, Dr Meghna Sharma (a travel blogger), Aastha, and Asmita – who were among those scheduled to fly to Kedarnath on June 14 – shared their harrowing experience. They said their flight from the Sahastradhara helipad was scheduled for 7 am but was repeatedly delayed due to “technical issues” and eventually cancelled.

The passengers were asked to stay back in Guptkashi and return at 4:20 am the next day. However, the helicopter they were supposed to board never arrived. Initially, it was claimed the helicopter had made an emergency landing, but no clear information followed.

According to the passengers, seven individuals were being flown in each helicopter without any clear communication or proper technical support. They described the ground staff as unprofessional and indifferent, alleging that there were no proper safety briefings, no structured coordination, and frequent in-flight turbulence. Some said that travelling by helicopter now felt like boarding a “flying coffin”.

One of the passengers recounted how their fellow pilgrims, who took off in another helicopter to Kedarnath, were later confirmed to have been aboard the ill-fated craft that crashed. The group was shaken upon hearing the news and considered themselves fortunate to have narrowly escaped.

Eyewitness accounts also suggest a complete breakdown in safety protocols, including poor air traffic control coordination and inadequate pre-flight checks. The lack of timely communication and the disregard for weather conditions have sparked fears that more such incidents could occur unless immediate reforms are implemented.

As outrage grows, families of the victims and recent passengers are demanding a thorough investigation and a complete overhaul of helicopter operations in the pilgrimage zone. The recurring pattern of crashes, delays, and disorganisation has raised alarming questions about the functioning of private aviation services during the Yatra season.