The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has recommended at least 50 hours of flying with an experienced hill pilot before pilots undertake their first single-pilot operations in the Kedarnath valley, following its probe into the June 2025 crash that killed seven people.
Its final report, dated October 13, cited the pilot’s limited flying experience, rapidly descending clouds and the failure to turn back or change course in time as contributing factors.
Aryan Aviation’s Bell 407 helicopter, registered VT-BKA, crashed while flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi on June 15, 2025. All six passengers and the pilot died.
The AAIB said the pilot continued flying despite the approaching clouds and became disoriented. The helicopter probably veered off course as he attempted to turn back towards Kedarnath without visual references, before striking terrain. He had reported no abnormality with the helicopter before or during the flight.
The AAIB urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to consider the 50-hour training requirement and assess pilots’ experience and skills before clearing them for single-pilot operations in demanding high-altitude regions.
The agency recorded eight accidents and one serious incident in the Char Dham sector between 2015 and 2025.
The AAIB also recommended DGCA oversight of the Sitapur control centre, set up after earlier accidents to manage helicopter traffic in the Kedarnath valley.
It urged the regulator to direct the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) to record radio communications between controllers and pilots. These recordings would support safety audits and provide crucial evidence for investigations, the report said.
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