New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): Reaffirming its firm commitment to aviation safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday ordered special audits and enhanced surveillance of helicopter operators conducting shuttle and charter services during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. The decision follows a series of recent incidents involving helicopter operations in the hilly region.
The DGCA has suspended the operations of Kestrel Aviation Private Limited with immediate effect after one of its helicopters made an emergency landing on a highway in Guptkashi on June 7. Five passengers on board the chopper, which was en route to Kedarnath from Rudraprayag, narrowly escaped unharmed.
“This is in addition to the suspension of operations of another operator for safety violations in May 2025,” the DGCA stated.
As a precautionary measure, the aviation regulator is also evaluating the potential need to curtail helicopter operations to the Char Dham entirely, should safety concerns persist.
To strengthen oversight, the DGCA has begun actively monitoring live camera feeds provided by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) at Kedarnath. The DGCA emphasized that real-time monitoring helps detect any deviation from standard operating procedures (SOPs), allowing for immediate corrective action.
“Today, two helicopter operators conducting shuttle and charter services to Kedarnath from their respective helipads failed to adhere to SOPs, particularly regarding proper helicopter parking procedures,” the DGCA reported.
A safety investigation has been initiated to examine contributing factors, including mechanical failures, operational errors, and weather-related challenges.
In addition, directives have been issued to all helicopter operators, restricting operations to Out of Ground Effect (OGE) conditions until further notice.
(ANI)
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