In brief
A helicopter crashed near Chayee village in Uttarakhand on 31 October 2026, killing all six people on board. The aircraft departed from the pilgrimage town of Badrinath in the snow and lost contact near Hathi Parvat. Uttarakhand authorities have announced a detailed investigation and are reviewing the future of shuttle and charter operations for the rest of the season.
On Friday, 31 October 2026, a helicopter crashed near Chayee village close to Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, killing all six people aboard, including the pilot.
The accident occurred approximately 290 km northeast of Dehradun, the state capital, after the helicopter departed from Badrinath — a Hindu pilgrimage town — around 1:14 p.m. local time amid snowfall.
According to reports, the aircraft lost contact while flying over the Hathi Parvat area before it crashed in the remote region near Chayee.
Chief Executive Officer of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, Prateek Jain, confirmed that all six occupants, comprising the pilot and five passengers, had perished in the incident.
Jain said: “A detailed investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the accident, and based on those findings, a decision will be made regarding how shuttle and charter operations will proceed for the remainder of the season.” The statement was issued after officials received the loss of the aircraft.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and directed the relevant officials to carry out a meticulous investigation into the cause of the accident.
Both officials indicated that the results of the inquiry could influence the continuation of short‑haul flights that serve pilgrims and visitors to the region during the winter season.
While the immediate focus remains on the forensic examination of the wreckage and the recovery of any available flight data recorders, state authorities are also reviewing safety protocols for aircraft operating in the high‑altitude, snow‑affected terrain of northern Uttarakhand.
The incident underscores the challenges faced by aviation services in remote Himalayan areas, where weather conditions can change abruptly and pose heightened risks to flight safety.
As investigators work on piecing together the circumstances that led to the tragedy, the Uttarakhand government remains committed to upholding public accountability and ensuring that any future guidance on aviation operations prioritizes the safety of travelers, especially during the peak pilgrimage season.
