Three days after a fatal Air India AI171 flight crash, another tragic incident has been reported in Uttarakhand, where a helicopter flying from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi crashed in the jungles of Gaurikund, leading to the deaths of seven people, including the pilot, according to media reports.

"Today, at around 5:20 am, a helicopter, which was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, crashed near Gaurikund. There were six passengers, including the pilot (5 adults and 1 child)," news agency ANI reported.

"Aryan Aviation’s Bell 407 helicopter (Reg. VT-BKA), operating the sector "Shri Kedarnath Ji – Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi," was involved in a tragic accident today. There were five passengers, one infant, and one crew member on board," the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement at 3.43 pm today.

The helicopter crash took place on the Kedarnath route in the Gaurikund area under Rudraprayag district.

Preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause may be Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area. The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Following the incident, a high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami at 11 AM, which was attended by senior officials of the Uttarakhand government, Secretary (Civil Aviation), DGCA, and associated teams. The following immediate actions have been taken:

1. Operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra have been suspended with immediate effect.

The incident comes three days after Air India flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London tragically crashed shortly after take-off, leading to the death of all but one passenger. The plane was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals. Following the impact on the ground, the death toll has reached 270, as many of those who were injured have succumbed to their injuries.

Air India CEO & MD Campbell Wilson on Saturday announced immediate financial support of ₹25 lakh, or around 21,000 British pounds, to each of the families of the deceased and also to the survivor of the Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. This is in addition to the ₹1 crore, or around 85,000 British pounds, already committed by Tata Sons.