Kedarnath helicopter crash- 5 accidents 13 deaths this year:Technical glitch or operator’s mistake; understand the technology of helicopter flying

This year, a total of 5 incidents related to helicopter crashes or emergency landings have been reported in the Kedarnath area. The crashed helicopters belong to the Bell company. Meanwhile, helicopters from Airbus and AgustaWestland are involved in emergency and crash landings. This is happening due to some mistake by the pilot or the company operating the helicopter, technical difficulties, or bad weather. Let’s understand this in detail, but first, take a look at 3 pictures of the accident… Now the technology of helicopters… Main parts of the helicopter and their functions: 1. Main Rotor Blades: These are responsible for lifting the helicopter into the air and providing direction. The blades are airfoils like the wings of an airplane. When they spin rapidly, they push air downwards, creating lift and allowing the helicopter to fly upwards. The pilot changes the angle of the blades collectively (all blades together) or cyclically (each blade individually). This allows the helicopter to move up and down, forward and backward, or right and left. These blades are flexible. 2. Tail Rotor: This is a small fan located at the tail of the helicopter, which helps in providing direction and stability. The pilot changes the angle of the tail rotor blades using foot pedals, allowing the helicopter to turn right or left. 3. Engine: This is the heart of the helicopter, providing it with the power to operate. Most helicopters have a turboshaft engine, which transmits power through a shaft to the main rotor and tail rotor. It is similar to a jet engine, but instead of pushing air, it rotates a shaft. Now understand how a helicopter flies The rotor blades of a helicopter spin rapidly and push air downwards. Newton’s law states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. So, when the blades push air downwards, the helicopter receives an upward lifting force. This lift is what allows the helicopter to fly in the air. Now, to move the helicopter here and there, forward and backward, or up and down, the pilot changes the angle of those blades. Meaning, if you tilt the blades a little, the helicopter goes in that direction. Meanwhile, the tail rotor turns the helicopter left and right and keeps it stable in one place. It prevents it from spinning around. 5 incidents related to helicopter crashes or emergency landings in the Kedarnath area 1. May 8, 2025: 6 killed in a crash near Ganganani in Uttarkashi This was a Bell 407 helicopter, operated by Aerotrans Services Private Limited. The helicopter was carrying pilgrims to Gangotri Dham. There were seven people on board, including the pilot. Six passengers died on the spot. One passenger was injured. The cause of the incident, whether due to bad weather, technical failure, or pilot error, is being investigated. 2. May 12, 2025: Emergency landing in the school ground at Ukhimath This was an Airbus AS350 B3 helicopter operated by Himalayan Heli Services. The helicopter was returning to Sersi with pilgrims from Badrinath. Due to poor visibility, it had to make an emergency landing in a school field in Ukhimath. All the pilgrims were safe. 3. May 17, 2025: AIIMS Rishikesh’s Helicopter Ambulance Crash Landing This was an Airbus AS350 B2 helicopter. The helicopter was going to Kedarnath to rescue a woman named Sridevi who was suffering from breathing difficulties. Due to a malfunction in the tail rotor, the helicopter had to crash land 10-20 meters before the Kedarnath helipad. In this incident, the three people on board the helicopter, namely the pilot, a doctor, and a nursing staff, escaped safely. 4. June 7, 2025: Emergency Landing on Highway in Rudraprayag This was an AgustaWestland AW119 helicopter, operated by Kestrel Aviation. This helicopter was heading towards Kedarnath Dham from Badasu (Sirsi) helipad in Rudraprayag district. Immediately after takeoff, due to a technical fault, it had to make an emergency landing on the national highway. All five passengers aboard the helicopter remained completely safe and did not sustain any injuries. The pilot complained of back pain, for which he was admitted to the hospital, but his injuries were minor. 5. June 15, 2025: 7 killed in helicopter crash near Kedarnath Valley This was a Bell 407 helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation. The helicopter was carrying 6 pilgrims (5 adults and 1 child) from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi. The primary cause of the accident is reported to be bad weather and low visibility. At around 5:20 in the morning, when the helicopter took off from the Kedarnath helipad, there were dense clouds and fog in the forests of Gaurikund. The Uttarakhand Meteorological Department had issued a warning of rain and fog in the mountainous districts that day, which was risky for flying.