A DGCA team was dispatched to look into the matter further. The pilot has been de-commissioned, and the helicopter has been grounded.
Digital Desk: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken notice of a dangerous landing of a private helicopter at Panjtarni while en route to the Amarnath Yatra.
The DGCA stated that the chopper service operator had been grounded and the pilot had been de-registered.
Shortly after the incident, a video of the visibly haphazard landing went viral on social media. The footage showed the chopper making a risky landing among mules, even as onlookers warned those nearby to move away.
Several people on social media questioned the DGCA about the incident.
According to the DGCA's statement "The incident in the video clip occurred at a location along the route known as Mahuguna Pass, not at any DGCA-approved helipads. The helicopter in the video appears to be overloaded, failing to meet performance standards, and the pilot does not appear to have followed the SOP for crossing a pass."
The helipads used in the Shri Amarnath Yatra are Neelgrath, Pahalgam, and Panjtarni. Following an inspection by the team, the civil aviation regulatory body has cleared the helipads for this year's Amarnath yatra.
DGCA reports, "The DGCA has taken note of this issue, and the EC 130 helicopter type used by M/s Heritage Aviation in this incident has already been grounded by Air Safety due to engine parameter exceedances reported. The pilot involved has also been de-registered."
According to the agency, the operator's second EC130 has also been grounded, and a probe team has been dispatched to investigate the incident further.
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