Char Dham helicopter operators threaten to halt services over DGCA's two-pilot rule

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Updated - November 01, 2026 08:19 pm IST - New Delhi

SDRF and other rescue personnel carry the mortal remains as teams are deployed at the site to recover the bodies of six people who died in a helicopter crash in Joshimath on October 30, 2026 | Photo Credit: PTI

Char Dham helicopter operators on Sunday (November 1, 2026) threatened to suspend services from November 2 after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) made it mandatory for every charter sortie to have two pilots on board, warning that the requirement would make operations financially unviable.

The two-pilot mandate for Char Dham helicopter operations was introduced following the October 30 helicopter crash in Uttarakhand’s Joshimath that claimed six lives, including that of the pilot.

Helicopter operators, however, have questioned the regulatory response, alleging that authorities routinely shift accountability onto operators and pilots while ignoring concerns over safety hazards, particularly drones and paragliding activity along flying routes.

In a collective representation to the aviation regulators, helicopter operators sought an urgent review of the directive, arguing that its introduction without consultation or assessment of commercial implications would make operations unsustainable.

“Given the existing commercial structure, prevailing charter rates and limited operational margins, these additional costs cannot be reasonably absorbed by the operators,” the letter stated, adding that passing the financial burden on to customers was also not commercially feasible.

The operators said the two-pilot requirement would significantly increase crew, accommodation and logistical expenses. They proposed suspending Char Dham charter operations from November 2 until authorities review the directive and arrive at a mutually workable solution.

A helicopter operator, on the condition of anonymity, questioned the weather-related angle in the October 30 crash, claiming videos of the incident showed clear visibility.

“The UCADA CEO himself told the media that flights were allowed to take off only when the weather was clear. The videos recorded from the ground also show a clear view of the mountains and the helicopter flying at an altitude of over 10,000 feet,” the operator said.

The operator added that the helicopter’s sudden fall could point to two possibilities: a medical emergency involving the pilot or a foreign object striking the aircraft.

Another operator, associated with Char Dham helicopter operations for over a decade, alleged that complaints about drones and paragliding activity near temple routes had repeatedly been raised with UCADA, but went unheeded.

“In almost all meetings, we have registered complaints about drones and paragliding activity causing trouble for flights, but no action was taken. Even on the day of the Joshimath crash, a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) was issued by the Indian Army, which has a substantial presence in Joshimath,” the operator said.

Responding to the claims, UCADA CEO Prateek Jain said the possibility of a drone hitting the helicopter had already been included in the investigation. He added that efforts were being made to identify the source of one of the videos of the crash, taken from the ground, in which another object was seen flying near the helicopter.

“We have addressed the concerns regarding drones and paragliding raised by the operators and have chalked out very specific routes for the choppers to fly,” he said.

Mr. Jain added that following the crash, the police and district administrations across Uttarakhand had been asked not to grant permission for drone operations near temples or along helicopter routes.

Asked whether similar requests had been made to the Indian Army, he said the authority was considering the matter and exploring ways to address it.

Published - November 01, 2026 08:18 pm IST

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