Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: In its preliminary findings, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has revealed that the Bell 407 helicopter which crashed in Uttarkashi on May 8 had collided with an overhead fibre cable during an emergency descent, leading to the deaths of six people, including the pilot.
The helicopter, bearing registration VT-OXF and operated by Aerotrans Services Pvt. Ltd., had departed from Kharsali Helipad at 08:11 IST, en route to Jhala Helipad. The flight, meant for the Char Dham Yatra, was a single-pilot charter operation with six passengers on board. Earlier that day, the same aircraft had completed a routine hill familiarisation sortie.
“The helicopter airborne again at 08:11 IST from Kharsali helipad,” the AAIB report stated, adding that the flight level assigned for the route was 10,500 feet above mean sea level.
The helicopter started to descend and made an emergency landing attempt along the Uttarkashi-Gangotri Road (NH 34), close to Gangnani, about 20 minutes into the flight. Metal barricades nearby were damaged when its main rotor blade collided with an overhead fiber cable that ran parallel to the road during the descent. The aircraft subsequently tumbled down a steep slope and came to rest against a tree about 250 feet into a gorge.
“The helicopter flew for 20 minutes before descending from its assigned altitude... Eventually, it came to rest against a tree, approximately 250 feet deep into a gorge,” the report said.
“The pilot and five passengers were fatally injured in the accident, while one passenger sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was destroyed in the crash. However, there was no fire,” the report added.
The AAIB noted the helicopter was airworthy at the time. By May 7, a defect in the tail rotor that was described as "surface skin peeled at the tail rotor tip" had been fixed. The last planned inspection of the aircraft was completed on April 25, 2025. Key elements of the ongoing investigation have been transferred to AAIB headquarters for additional analysis, with assistance from experts from the US, Canada, and Rolls-Royce.
