DGCA orders two pilots for Char Dham flights after crash
Pilgrims face disrupted helicopter access as safety costs rise
Overview
A helicopter carrying five pilgrims and a pilot crashed near Chhai village in Chamoli district on October 30 while flying from Badrinath to Dehradun. All six people died. In response, the ordered every charter flight to carry two pilots from November 2. The second pilot must be qualified to fly in the hills. Each flight must also receive approval from the before departure and file a report after landing.
Eleven companies protested on October 31. They said the extra pilot, lodging and other costs would make the flights too expensive to run. They announced a shutdown from November 2, threatening bookings and pilgrimage plans. Some travelers may have to use slower road transport. The dispute will show whether the keeps, delays or changes the rule, and whether companies can continue flights while meeting stricter safety demands.
Timeline
The new DGCA safety requirements became due as operators faced disrupted pilgrim services
The and associated clearance and reporting conditions were scheduled to apply from the first takeoff on November 2. Operators’ planned shutdown placed bookings and pilgrimage schedules at risk, while passengers faced possible delays, cancellations or reliance on slower ground alternatives. The available reporting did not establish a later DGCA modification or a confirmed resolution of the dispute.
Char Dham operators announced a suspension of charter flights from November 2
The participating operators notified the that they proposed suspending charter operations from November 2. They tied the suspension to a demand for review and a mutually workable solution with the authorities. The announcement threatened to interrupt helicopter access for pilgrims with existing bookings and scheduled journeys.
Operators said the twin-pilot mandate made Char Dham services financially unviable
The operators argued that adding a second hill-qualified pilot to every sortie would substantially raise operating expenses. They cited higher staffing, accommodation, logistics and related crew costs against existing charter rates and limited margins. Their joint letter said they could not accept the mandate in its current form.
DGCA added control-room clearances and post-flight pilot reports to Char Dham operations
The regulator required positive destination and en-route clearance from the for each . Pilots were also required to submit reports after landing. These conditions expanded oversight beyond the cockpit by adding real-time route authorization and documented checks after each sector.
DGCA required the second pilot to hold hill-operation qualifications
The new operating condition required the co-pilot to be qualified for hill operations, limiting the pool of pilots who could immediately fill the additional cockpit position. Operators said recruiting and positioning appropriately qualified crew would add costs and reduce operational flexibility. The requirement therefore affected both safety oversight and flight economics.
DGCA ordered two pilots on every Char Dham charter flight from November 2
The DGCA directed Char Dham helicopter operators to use two pilots from the first takeoff on November 2. The intervention followed the fatal Badrinath flight and was presented as an immediate safety measure for operations in mountainous terrain. The requirement changed the sector from single-pilot to twin-pilot operations.
Eleven Char Dham operators jointly protested DGCA’s proposed twin-pilot requirement
Eleven helicopter operators sent a to the DGCA after the crash-driven safety directive. They objected to mandatory two-pilot staffing on every charter sortie and sought a review through consultation. The operators said the rule would increase crew, accommodation and logistical costs.
A helicopter crash near Chhai village killed the pilot and five passengers returning from Badrinath
The helicopter was flying from Badrinath to Dehradun when it crashed near Chhai village in Chamoli district. All six people on board, including five pilgrims and the pilot, died. Officials recovered the wreckage near an army camp after the aircraft lost contact during the flight.