A helicopter en route to Kedarnath made an emergency landing on a road in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand on Saturday afternoon due to a technical malfunction. The helicopter, operated by Kestrel Aviation Private Limited, was carrying five passengers, all of whom are reported to be safe. However, the pilot sustained minor injuries during the landing.
According to official reports, the AW119 helicopter (Registration VT-RNK) took off from the Badasu (Sersi) helipad at 12:52 PM. Shortly after take-off, it encountered a technical snag, specifically, the collective control got stuck, forcing the pilot, Captain RPS Sodhi, to make a hard landing on the main road near Guptkashi, adjacent to the helipad.
In the incident, a car parked on the roadside sustained damage. The pilot was immediately taken to a local hospital for treatment. “All five passengers are safe and unharmed,” said District Tourism Development Officer Rahul Chaubey.
A video shared by news agency ANI on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) showed the helicopter resting on the highway as locals rushed toward the scene.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) confirmed that all other shuttle services to and from Kedarnath are operating normally. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified and a team from the Directorate of Air Safety (Northern Region) is being dispatched to conduct an on-site investigation.
This incident is the latest in a string of helicopter-related issues reported along the Chardham Yatra route in recent weeks. A few weeks ago, a medical helicopter operated by AIIMS Rishikesh made an emergency landing in Kedarnath due to tail rotor malfunction. Fortunately, the two doctors and the pilot onboard were safe, and the patient was rescued.
Earlier on May 8, a tragic crash near Uttarkashi claimed the lives of six individuals, including five women pilgrims and the pilot. The helicopter, flying from Dehradun to the Harsil helipad, went down due to unknown causes that remain under investigation.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to ensuring safer air travel for pilgrims on the Chardham Yatra route, particularly given the increasing demand for helicopter services in the region.
