The investigation into the Badrinath Valley helicopter crash has widened after the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) alleged that the operator flew despite an order suspending all services on the Char Dham route during an orange weather alert.

UCADA Additional Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Tolia said the flight suspension order was issued on Friday because of deteriorating weather. The direction was issued by Group Captain Amit Sharma (Retired), the authority’s head of operations.

According to Tolia, Trans Bharat Aviation Private Limited operated the helicopter despite the order. He said UCADA follows Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules while regulating helicopter operations and had stopped flights in accordance with those requirements.

The inquiry will examine how the alleged violation occurred and whether negligence took place at any level. It will also consider whether the company breached applicable DGCA rules.

Operator says it was unaware of the order

S. Bhattacharya, Trans Bharat Aviation’s director of flight operations, disputed the immediate basis of UCADA’s claim. Speaking from Delhi, he said he had no information about such an order and that the investigation was continuing.

Bhattacharya said UCADA would be able to provide information about the matter. The differing positions mean investigators will need to establish when the suspension order was issued, how it was communicated and whether the operator received it before the flight.

AAIB and DGCA teams examine crash site

Teams from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and DGCA have reached Uttarakhand to investigate the crash. Officials are examining the accident site and the circumstances surrounding the helicopter’s operation.

The probe will include the alleged disregard of the flight suspension order and possible violations of DGCA regulations, UCADA said. Further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

The development matters for passengers using helicopter services on the Char Dham route, particularly during periods of severe or unstable weather. The inquiry is expected to clarify whether the flight operated after the suspension order and whether established safety procedures were followed.

Rescue teams trek to remote crash site

The crash occurred near Badrinath in difficult mountainous terrain. On Saturday morning, the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force resumed search and rescue operations.

Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said the teams had to walk about 8 km to reach the crash site. The route’s remoteness added to the operational challenge for rescuers and investigators.

The crash killed the pilot and 5 pilgrims from Karnataka. The victims’ bodies were to be taken first to Govindghat and then to Dehradun, where the required formalities were to be completed before the process of handing them over to their families.

Conclusion

UCADA alleges that Trans Bharat Aviation operated during a weather-related flight suspension, while the company says it was unaware of the order. AAIB and DGCA teams are investigating the crash, the alleged order violation and any possible breach of aviation rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What happened near Badrinath?

A helicopter crashed in the Badrinath Valley, killing the pilot and 5 Karnataka pilgrims.

Q. What does UCADA allege?

UCADA alleges that Trans Bharat Aviation operated the helicopter despite an order suspending flights on the Char Dham route.

Q. Why were flights suspended?

UCADA said flights were suspended because of deteriorating weather and an orange weather alert.

Q. Who issued the flight suspension order?

The order was issued by Group Captain Amit Sharma (Retired), UCADA’s head of operations, according to the authority.

Q. What has Trans Bharat Aviation said?

The company’s director of flight operations, S. Bhattacharya, said he was unaware of such an order and that the matter was under investigation.

Q. Which agencies are investigating the crash?

Teams from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation are investigating the accident.

Q. How did rescue teams reach the site?

Army, ITBP, SDRF and NDRF teams walked about 8 km through the mountainous terrain to reach the crash site.

Q. What will the investigation examine?

It will examine the crash, the alleged disregard of the flight suspension order and possible violations of DGCA rules.