A helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation crashed early on June 15 between Gaurikund and Sonprayag in Uttarakhand while en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi. Onboard were six pilgrims (five adults and a 23‑month‑old child) and a pilot, all of whom perished. The aircraft lost contact around 5:20 a.m. morning amid dense forest and poor weather. Rescue efforts by SDRF, NDRF, and local police are underway in extremely challenging terrain, but no survivors have been found. The tragedy raises renewed concerns over air safety during the pilgrimage season in the char‑Dham region, prompting calls for stricter protocols and comprehensive investigations.

A helicopter from Aryan Aviation, returning pilgrims from Kedarnath to Guptkashi, crashed near Gaurikund’s dense forests at around 5:20 am on June 15, killing all seven onboard including five adults, a child, and the pilot from Uttarakhand, UP, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Poor visibility and morning weather are believed to have caused the crash. Rescue teams from SDRF, NDRF and local authorities have been deployed to the remote site. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief and ordered a technical safety review, suspending Char Dham helicopter services until strengthened norms are drafted. (PC: India Today & Newsdrum)

A helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation en route from Dehradun to Kedarnath crashed near Gaurikund on June 15, 2025, after losing radar contact between Trijuginarayan and Gaurikund, Uttarakhand . Six individuals aboard—including the pilot and a child—are believed to have died on impact. Local police, SDRF, and emergency teams are conducting intensive search-and-rescue operations amid challenging terrain. The cause of the crash remains unknown. This tragic incident has heightened safety alarm, especially following multiple recent helicopter mishaps along the Char Dham pilgrimage route during this season.

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson announced an interim compensation of ₹25 lakh for each of the deceased and the sole survivor of the June 12 Ahmedabad Boeing 787 crash—added to the ₹1 crore previously pledged by Tata Sons . Over 200 trained personnel have been stationed in Ahmedabad, offering dedicated caregivers and counselling services to affected families . The airline has recovered the flight data recorder, is cooperating with regulators, and is conducting precautionary safety checks on its Boeing 787 fleet under DGCA directives . Investigations continue into the cause of this tragic accident. (PC: PTI)

A helicopter carrying six people, including the pilot, en route from Dehradun to Kedarnath crashed near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand on June 15, 2025. The aircraft lost contact mid-flight and was later confirmed to have crashed between Trijuginarayan and Gaurikund. Local police, SDRF, and rescue teams rushed to the site, but poor visibility and rugged terrain hampered operations. The status of all six onboard remains unconfirmed. This is the fourth aviation mishap in the Char Dham route recently, intensifying concerns about flight safety during the pilgrimage season. An official probe into the incident is underway. (PC: Hindustan Times)

In a significant anti-Maoist operation in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district, four Maoists, including three women, were killed during an encounter with security forces. The joint operation, led by Hawk Force and police personnel, occurred in the Bahela police station area on Friday. The slain Maoists were affiliated with the Tanda Dalam group, and authorities recovered weapons including an AK-47 and a 315 bore rifle. Police stated the deceased carried collective rewards of ₹47 lakh. Balaghat, a Maoist-affected area bordering Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, has seen intensified combing operations. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav praised the security forces, emphasizing his government’s commitment to eliminating extremism and ensuring the state's safety. (PC: Pragativadi & BBC)

Air India Flight AI‑171, a Boeing 787‑8 bound for London Gatwick, crashed minutes after departing Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 270 including 241 onboard and approximately 29 on the ground. The cockpit transmitted chilling final words, “Thrust not achieved, falling, Mayday” indicating a critical loss of engine power or lift. It was the first fatal 787 crash since its 2011 debut. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau recovered the black box 28 hours later; the DGCA has ordered enhanced safety inspections of all Air India 787‑8/9 aircraft, focusing on fuel, engine, and hydraulics. Only one passenger, British‑Indian Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived and is recovering. The probe, supported by US and UK agencies, continues. (PC: The Nightly & NDTV)

On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Flight AI 171) crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, tragically killing at least 270 people, including students in a nearby hostel, the deadliest air disaster in a decade. CCTV footage shows the flight briefly climbing with its landing gear extended and no visible engine fire before descending and exploding into a fireball 33 seconds after departure. Investigators are probing engine thrust anomalies, flap malfunctions, and prolonged gear deployment; maintenance lapses are possible, while bird strike seems unlikely. The flight data recorder has been recovered; the cockpit voice recorder remains missing. India’s regulator has mandated additional checks on all Boeing 787‑8/9s, focusing on GEnx engines and takeoff parameters. (PC: CNN, CNBC, Reuters & The Economic Times)

Monali and Sunny Patel of Anand—known as Gujarat’s “NRI City”—had booked a June 6 return to London but postponed due to a medical issue with Monali. They rebooked and boarded the ill-fated Flight AI 171 on June 12, which crashed seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing nearly all aboard . Both perished, along with 33 other passengers from Anand. Their final moments included heartfelt goodbyes and shared messages: Monali told relatives “everything was cleared… see you soon” shortly before boarding . The tragedy has left families reeling, grappling with shattered expectations and unanswered grief. (PC: NDTV)

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, in his first post-crash briefing on June 14, confirmed the recovery and ongoing decoding of the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from Air India Flight AI 171—crashed near Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 onboard and over 30 ground victims . He announced the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and DGCA are collaborating with international agencies (NTSB, Boeing, GE) in a three-month probe, while urgent safety checks on all 34 Boeing 787s in India have begun . DNA testing for victim identification is underway, and the high-level committee aims to issue findings and prevention guidelines swiftly. (PC: PTI)