In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, a helicopter belonging to Kestrel Aviation Pvt Ltd made an emergency landing on a road in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. The aircraft, which had taken off from Sersey-Badasu helipad carrying five pilgrims en route to Kedarnath Dham, reportedly faced a technical snag shortly after takeoff, prompting the pilot to act swiftly and land the chopper on a nearby road.
During the emergency landing, the helicopter collided with a parked car on the roadside. Fortunately, there was no one inside the vehicle at the time, although the car sustained damage. All five passengers on board the helicopter were unharmed. The pilot, however, sustained minor injuries.
According to officials from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), the pilot chose to land the helicopter on the road as a precautionary measure. Confirming the incident, the UCADA CEO stated that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified and that all other shuttle operations are continuing as scheduled.
Dr. V. Murugesan, Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), Uttarakhand, confirmed to ANI that the incident occurred in Guptkashi, Rudraprayag. He assured that all individuals aboard the helicopter were safe and accounted for.
The swift response of the pilot and the absence of any casualties highlight the importance of preparedness and quick decision-making in crisis situations during high-altitude pilgrim operations.
