Rudraprayag: In a dramatic incident on Saturday morning, a helicopter crash occurred near Kedarnath. The helicopter, belonging to Kestrel Aviation, was being airlifted by an Indian Air Force MI-17 helicopter for repairs when the mishap took place around 8 AM.
Incident Details
On May 24, 2024, the Kestrel Aviation helicopter experienced a technical fault during landing, necessitating an emergency landing near the Kedarnath helipad. To facilitate repairs, the helicopter was being transported to the Gauchar airstrip, suspended beneath an MI-17 helicopter. However, during the flight, the MI-17 began to lose balance due to the weight and wind conditions, forcing the pilot to release the helicopter near Tharu Camp.
Official Statements
District Tourism Officer Rahul Choubey explained that the plan was to transport the helicopter to the Gauchar airstrip for repairs. Unfortunately, the MI-17’s balance deteriorated shortly after takeoff, leading to the emergency drop. Thankfully, there were no passengers or luggage on board at the time of the incident.
Background
The helicopter had been grounded in Kedarnath for the past three months following the initial emergency landing. On May 24, 2024, while carrying six passengers from Tamil Nadu, the helicopter lost balance 100 meters before the helipad. Captain Kalpesh managed to make an emergency landing after the helicopter swayed eight times in the air.
Rescue and Inspection
Upon receiving information about the crash, rescue teams promptly arrived at the scene. They are currently inspecting the situation to ensure there is no loss of life or property.
This incident highlights the challenges and risks associated with airlifting operations, especially in the mountainous terrains of Uttarakhand.
