Aircraft accident investigation bureau team reaches Uttarkashi to probe chopper crash

Dehradun: A day after six people were killed when a chopper ferrying pilgrims to Gangotri crashed into a gorge near Gangnani village, a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), a division under the ministry of Civil Aviation, arrived in Uttarkashi on Friday to probe cause behind the crash.The multi-member team landed in Dehradun and then flew to Bhatwari helipad, from where they were taken to the crash site. The helicopter wreckage, still lying at the spot, is now the focus of their investigation."The team was taken to the site by SDRF and district officials. They conducted a preliminary investigation and later returned to Dehradun," said Shardul Gusain, Uttarkashi's district disaster management officer.The AAIB team is expected to carry out a detailed analysis, including an examination of the wreckage, flight data, and pilot records, to determine the cause of the crash.The accident occurred around 8.30 am on Thursday, at a time when the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a weather alert for May 7 and 8 in Uttarkashi. However, what happened between take-off and the crash remains unclear.The helicopter, a Bell 407, was operated by Ahmedabad-based Aero Trans Service Pvt Ltd. Among the six killed were five pilgrims and the pilot. One of the victims was Vedavathi Kumari, 48, sister of Anantapur TDP MP Ambica G Lakshminarayana. Her husband, Maktur Bhaskar, 51, who was seated beside her, survived, but is in critical condition at AIIMS Rishikesh.Dehradun: A day after six people were killed when a chopper ferrying pilgrims to Gangotri crashed into a gorge near Gangnani village, a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), a division under the ministry of Civil Aviation, arrived in Uttarkashi on Friday to probe cause behind the crash.The multi-member team landed in Dehradun and then flew to Bhatwari helipad, from where they were taken to the crash site. The helicopter wreckage, still lying at the spot, is now the focus of their investigation."The team was taken to the site by SDRF and district officials. They conducted a preliminary investigation and later returned to Dehradun," said Shardul Gusain, Uttarkashi's district disaster management officer.The AAIB team is expected to carry out a detailed analysis, including an examination of the wreckage, flight data, and pilot records, to determine the cause of the crash.The accident occurred around 8.30 am on Thursday, at a time when the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a weather alert for May 7 and 8 in Uttarkashi. However, what happened between take-off and the crash remains unclear.The helicopter, a Bell 407, was operated by Ahmedabad-based Aero Trans Service Pvt Ltd. Among the six killed were five pilgrims and the pilot. One of the victims was Vedavathi Kumari, 48, sister of Anantapur TDP MP Ambica G Lakshminarayana. Her husband, Maktur Bhaskar, 51, who was seated beside her, survived, but is in critical condition at AIIMS Rishikesh.