Uttarkashi chopper crash caused by overhead cable strike during emergency landing, says AAIB

The tragic helicopter crash in Uttarkashi on May 8, 2025, which claimed six lives, was caused by the main rotor striking an overhead fibre cable during an attempted emergency landing. This preliminary finding was revealed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in its latest report on Saturday. The BELL 407 helicopter, operated by Aerotrans Services Pvt Ltd, was carrying five women pilgrims to the Gangotri temple when the incident occurred.

According to the AAIB, the helicopter began descending from its assigned altitude approximately 20 minutes after takeoff. The 59-year-old pilot, who possessed over 6,160 hours of flying experience, initiated an emergency landing attempt on the Uttarkashi-Gangotri National Highway. However, during this critical maneuver, the aircraft's main rotor collided with an overhead fibre cable running alongside the road, leading to the fatal crash.

The accident resulted in the immediate deaths of six individuals, including the pilot and five passengers, while one person sustained serious injuries. The investigation into the root cause(s) of the crash is still underway, with the AAIB coordinating with Accredited Representatives and Technical Advisors appointed by the NTSB (USA) and TSB (Canada), and a technical advisor from Rolls-Royce also assisting the probe. The preliminary report underscores the critical role of the cable strike in the tragic outcome.