Prior to Sunday morning’s helicopter crash in Kedarnath, which claimed the lives of three members of a business family from Vani town in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had already ordered a reduction in the frequency of helicopter operations, according to DGCA sources.

The region had witnessed other helicopter-related emergencies earlier in 2025. While several of these incidents involved only technical or mechanical issues and no casualties, a crash on May 8 this year resulted in fatalities. The DGCA, in a statement issued on Sunday morning, confirmed the crash: “On 15.06.2025, Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter VT-BKA operating flight on sector ‘Shri Kedarnath ji – Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi’ was involved in an accident.”  The Bell 407 is a single-engine, four-bladed civilian helicopter also commonly used in emergency medical services.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation also released a statement regarding the incident, reading: “Preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause may be Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area. The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).”