Helicopter en route to Kedarnath makes emergency landing in Rudraprayag; all onboard safe

New Delhi: A Kedarnath-bound helicopter made an emergency landing on a highway in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Saturday after developing a technical snag mid-flight, officials said. All six people on board, including the pilot, are safe.

The helicopter, operated by Kestrel Aviation, had taken off from the Badasu base en route to Kedarnath when it encountered a technical issue. The pilot managed to land the aircraft on the highway near Sirsi, narrowly avoiding nearby buildings.

Videos circulating on social media showed the helicopter parked in the middle of the road, close to residential structures. A car was damaged after being struck by the helicopter’s tail rotor during the landing.

Officials confirmed that all the pilgrims on board escaped unhurt. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Rahul Choubey, nodal officer for Kedarnath Heli Service, said the emergency landing had no impact on the ongoing helicopter shuttle services to Kedarnath. Authorities are working to remove the aircraft from the highway.