Key Facts

Helicopter operators on the Char Dham route threatened to suspend charter services from 2 November 2026 after the DGCA and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) made it mandatory for every charter sortie to carry two pilots. The rule followed the 30 October crash of a private helicopter at Joshimath in which six people, including the pilot, died. Operators said the order was issued without consultation and would raise crew, accommodation and logistics costs, and some questioned whether weather was a factor, as videos showed clear visibility. UCADA said the possibility of a drone or foreign object striking the aircraft is part of the investigation.

GK Context

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is India's civil aviation regulator under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) investigates accidents. A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) alerts pilots to hazards or temporary restrictions along a route. The Char Dham of Uttarakhand, also called the Chota Char Dham, comprises Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Controlled flight into terrain is a common risk in low-altitude mountain flying.