The Bell 407 helicopter that crashed in Uttarkashi on May 8, killing six people, including the pilot, had struck an overhead cable during an emergency descent, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said in its preliminary report.
“The purpose of the flight was Charter flying for Char Dham Yatra. This was a single pilot operation flight, and this sector was planned to be operated by another pilot. The assigned flight level for this entire sector was 10,500ft AMSL… The helicopter airborne again at 08:11 IST from Kharsali helipad,” the report said.
Investigators have released preliminary findings regarding the tragic Uttarkashi helicopter crash that occurred on May 8, 2025, claiming six lives, including the pilot. The Bell 407 helicopter, operated by Aerotrans Services Pvt Ltd, was on a chartered Char Dham Yatra flight when, approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, it began an unexpected descent from its assigned cruising altitude of 10,500 feet.
The pilot attempted an emergency landing on the Uttarkashi-Gangotri Road (NH 34), near Gangnani. During this critical maneuver, the main rotor blade struck an overhead fiber optic cable running parallel to the highway. The impact also damaged nearby metal barricades. Following the collision, the helicopter tumbled down a steep slope, eventually coming to rest against a tree roughly 250 feet deep into a gorge. While the helicopter was destroyed, there was no fire. One passenger survived with serious injuries. The investigation is ongoing, with international assistance, to determine the root causes.
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