Kedarnath chopper crash: Pilot's last message revealed in AAIB probe

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released an interim report on the fatal Bell 407 helicopter crash near Kedarnath, which occurred on June 15, killing all seven people onboard. The report highlights the pilot's final communication, stating, "Cannot see anything, turning..." as the valley exit was obscured by clouds. Despite the tragic outcome, the AAIB's initial findings indicate no abnormalities were observed when the 17-year-old Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd helicopter, registered VT-BKA, departed from Kedarnath helipad.

The accident took place at 5:35 am near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand, with the helicopter subsequently destroyed by fire before reaching its destination at Guptkashi helipad. CCTV footage analysis revealed that the valley exit point was covered with descending clouds at the time of the incident. The report notes that two other helicopters, following VT-BKA, successfully exited the valley at a lower altitude, avoiding the cloud cover. Standard procedures dictate helicopters maintain 8,500 feet upon entering and 9,000 feet upon exiting the Kedarnath valley, an altitude the pilot of VT-BKA was reportedly maintaining.

The investigation into the root cause of the accident is ongoing, with the AAIB team collaborating with accredited representatives and technical advisors from the United States' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB). A technical advisor from Bell Helicopters also conducted a visual examination of the recovered wreckage parts in Dehradun, identifying most damages as consequential from heavy impact with the terrain.

Following the fatal incident, India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), updated its circular in September to incorporate various enhanced safety measures specifically for Char Dham operations, including the critical Kedarnath shuttle flights. These regulatory adjustments aim to prevent similar occurrences and bolster operational safety in the challenging mountainous region.