Helicopter crash in Uttarakhand kills 7 Hindu pilgrims

Rescuers work at the helicopter crash site near Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, June 15, 2025.

A helicopter carrying Hindu pilgrims crashed early Sunday in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, killing all seven people on board, including the pilot, officials confirmed.

The aircraft, operated by Aryan Aviation, had taken off from Kedarnath and was en route to Guptkashi—both prominent pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas—when it went down just minutes into the 10-minute journey. The crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. in a forested area near the Kedarnath route.

Preliminary investigations suggest poor weather conditions caused the accident. The victims were pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. The bodies were badly burned in a fire that broke out following the crash.

Local disaster response teams have launched a rescue and recovery operation. Authorities plan to review safety protocols for flights in the region, which is known for its challenging terrain and unpredictable weather.

Helicopter accidents have occurred in the area before. On June 7, a helicopter made an emergency landing due to a technical fault. In another incident on May 8, a crash in Uttarkashi district killed six people.

Kedarnath, one of Hinduism’s holiest temple sites, attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. Due to the high-altitude terrain, many opt for helicopter services to reach the shrine.