DEHRADUN, November 2, 2026 – In a move that could significantly disrupt the final leg of the annual pilgrimage season, helicopter operators in Uttarakhand have threatened to suspend all Char Dham charter services starting Monday. The operators are protesting a newly introduced mandate by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) that makes a co-pilot compulsory for all flights on the yatra route.
The UCADA announced the strict twin-pilot regulation on Saturday, reacting swiftly to the tragic October 30 helicopter crash near Joshimath in the Chamoli district, which claimed the lives of six people, including five pilgrims.
However, in a joint letter written to both UCADA and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Sunday, the helicopter operators expressed their absolute inability to accept the mandatory twin-pilot requirement “in its present form.” They argued that implementing the rule without adequate prior consultation and commercial assessment makes flight operations financially unviable.
“The mandatory deployment of two pilots on every charter sortie will substantially increase operating costs, crew requirements, accommodation and logistical expenses, and overall operational commitments,” the operators stated in their letter. They highlighted that given the current commercial structures and prevailing charter rates, these additional costs cannot be absorbed by the operators, nor is it feasible to pass the massive financial burden onto the customers.
The operators stressed that while they support aviation safety, any additional measures “must be practical, proportionate, commercially sustainable and developed in consultation with the operating stakeholders.”
Unless a mutually workable solution is found and the order is reviewed, the operators formally conveyed that they will suspend their Char Dham charter operations effective November 2, 2026.
The looming suspension comes at a critical time for thousands of pilgrims attempting to complete their yatras before the high-altitude shrines close for the harsh winter season. The Gangotri shrine is scheduled to close on November 10, followed by Kedarnath and Yamunotri on November 11, and the Badrinath shrine on November 16.
Published by True Roots Media Network