official (PIB, Chamoli district administration), press (The Hindu, Indian Express, BBC), Oct 30 to 31
A helicopter flying pilgrims from Badrinath crashes near Joshimath, killing all six aboard
The weather office had already raised an orange alert. The flight left after the alert; officials say that is under investigation.
Key facts
- Killed
- All six aboard: the pilot and five pilgrims from Karnataka (Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar, via The Hindu)
- Aircraft
- AS350B3, VT-HCX, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation; left Badrinath helipad at 1314 local time for Dehradun (PIB)
- Weather
- IMD had issued an orange alert for Chamoli for thunderstorms, hail and gusty winds (Indian Express)
- Response
- Operator's fleet grounded; DGCA and AAIB teams sent (UCADA, PIB)
The bodies were found but the recovery is difficult due to the terrain.
Prateek Jain, UCADA chief executive, via PTI
Note
A helicopter carrying five pilgrims and a pilot from the Badrinath shrine to Dehradun crashed into forest near Chai village in Joshimath, Uttarakhand, on Friday, killing everyone aboard. India's civil aviation ministry said the AS350B3, registration VT-HCX and operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, left the Badrinath helipad at 1314 local time.
Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said an Army team reached the wreckage above Chai village and confirmed the deaths. The five passengers were pilgrims from Karnataka, The Hindu reports. The India Meteorological Department had issued an orange alert for Chamoli warning of thunderstorms, hail and gusty winds, the Indian Express reports.
Recovery resumed at 5 AM on Saturday after darkness, bears and rough terrain halted it on Friday, PTI reports. The state grounded the operator's fleet, and DGCA and AAIB teams were sent to investigate. Asked about flying despite the alert, UCADA chief Prateek Jain said it is "in the scope of investigation now."
Why it matters
Pilgrim shuttles fly narrow Himalayan valleys in weather that turns fast, and officials say the IMD alert is now part of the investigation.
Sources
- PIB: Helicopter belonging to M/S Transbharat Aviation Pvt Ltd crashes at Joshimath in Uttarakhand (Oct 30 2026)
- The Hindu: Uttarakhand chopper crash, all six on board killed, says Chamoli District Magistrate (Oct 30 2026)
- The Hindu (PTI): Operation underway to recover bodies from remote chopper crash site (Oct 31 2026)
- Indian Express: Pilot, five pilgrims killed as helicopter returning from Badrinath crashes (Oct 31 2026)
- BBC: Six dead after helicopter crashes in northern Indian state (Oct 30 2026)
Primary + secondary attribution as listed.
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