Helicopter pilot who died in Uttarakhand crash an Army veteran and father of 4-month-old twins

His father, Govind Singh Chauhan, said the family was informed about the incident by one of his son’s colleagues. “Captain V K Singh, his colleague, informed us that Rajveer’s helicopter has crashed. Three helicopters had left together and two of them had landed. He, too, was about to land and had given a last message that he is taking a left turn to land but lost way in a cloud, as per what I have been told,” the father said.

Govind also said Rajveer and his wife Deepika, currently a Lieutenant Colonel with the Army, had become parents to twins just four months ago after about 14 years of marriage. The family is originally from Mahwa in Dausa district.

Rajveer’s elder brother, Chandraveer, has left for Uttarakhand to collect his remains.

Local MLA, the BJP’s Balmukund Acharya, met the Chauhan family. “His parents recounted that they used to ask him how he manages to navigate in that difficult weather and terrain, and Rajveer used to assure them that he has piloted in difficult weather in Siachen for the Army,” the Hawa Mahal MLA said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma joined others in extending his condolences to the family, saying, “The news of the loss of life of the pilot from Rajasthan and other devotees due to the helicopter crash in Kedarnath is extremely sad. May Baba Kedar give place to the departed souls in his feet and provide strength to the bereaved families to bear this lightning strike.”

Chauhan started working with Aryan Aviation, where he flew the Bell 407 helicopter, in October last year. He joined the Army in 2009. As per his LinkedIn profile, his role in the Army “involved operations planning and executing flying missions over daunting terrains that few would navigate”.

“I led initiatives that impacted remote communities, from constructing a primary school to establishing a healthcare center, elevating the quality of life for the local populace. My leadership extended to a team of 50 highly skilled Air Traffic Personnel. I led the planning and execution of flying operations in the intricate terrain of Punjab, along the International Border,” Chauhan said in his profile.

“We were at the forefront during crises, providing Human Assistance and Disaster Relief in flood situations, saving lives, and delivering crucial supplies to our soldiers,” he said.

He also said he had over 2,000 hours of flying experience. He completed his Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from the University of Rajasthan in 2007.

Confirming the crash and the deaths, Nilesh Bharne, Inspector General, Law and Order, Uttarakhand, said, “Around 5.20 am on Sunday, the helicopter went missing after taking passengers from Kedarnath, en route to Guptkashi. It crashed in Gaurikund, leading to seven deaths. We are ascertaining the reason for the crash.”

Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) issued a statement saying that the helicopter of Aryan Aviation, a Bell 407 utility chopper, “crashed near Gaurikund due to unknown reasons”.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the local administration and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. “I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the travellers,” he wrote on X.