
FIR filed against Aryan Aviation officials in U’khand chopper crash
On Sunday, a tragic helicopter crash in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath Dham left seven people dead, including the pilots and passengers. The chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation, was returning from the sacred site when it met with disaster. The incident has sent shockwaves across the country, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. In a significant development, a case has been registered against Aryan Aviation’s Accountable Manager Kaushik Pathak and Manager Vikas Tomar, who have been accused of negligence leading to the tragic incident.
According to reports, the FIR has been filed under Section 105 of the Bombay Navigation Rules (BNS) and Section 10 of the Aircraft Act. The FIR alleges that Pathak and Tomar were responsible for ensuring the safety of the passengers and crew, but they failed to do so, resulting in the tragic loss of lives.
The investigation into the crash is being conducted by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation. The AAIB is a specialized agency that investigates aviation accidents and incidents to determine their causes and make recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The FIR has been filed at the Kotwali Police Station in Rudraprayag district, where the crash occurred. The police have collected evidence from the crash site, including the wreckage of the helicopter, and are examining the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder to determine the cause of the crash.
The investigation is ongoing, but initial reports suggest that the helicopter may have experienced a technical malfunction or human error, which led to the crash. The AAIB is also looking into the maintenance records of the helicopter and the training of the pilots to determine if there were any lapses that contributed to the accident.
The crash has raised questions about the safety record of Aryan Aviation and the regulatory oversight of the company. Aryan Aviation is a private helicopter operator that operates in several states in India, including Uttarakhand, where the crash occurred. The company has a fleet of helicopters that are used for tourist flights, charter flights, and emergency medical services.
The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of helicopter travel in India. Helicopter travel is a popular mode of transportation in India, particularly in areas where roads are difficult to access. However, the industry has faced several safety concerns in recent years, including crashes and near-misses.
The Uttarakhand government has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the victims of the crash. The government has also ordered an inquiry into the incident and has suspended the licence of Aryan Aviation pending the outcome of the investigation.
In conclusion, the FIR filed against Aryan Aviation’s officials is a significant development in the investigation into the Kedarnath Dham chopper crash. The incident is a tragic reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety of passengers and crew in the aviation industry. The investigation is ongoing, and it is expected that the cause of the crash will be determined in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the families of the victims are left to mourn the loss of their loved ones and wonder what could have been done to prevent the tragedy.