The VT‑HCX helicopter of Trans Bharat Aviation, piloted by Capt Himanshu, departed Badrinath at 13:14 hrs on Friday, veered over Joshimath valley, and crashed, killing all six aboard.
Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami announced the incident on X, noting smoke rising near Chaien village and the loss of communication with the aircraft.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority said the aircraft's tracking system ceased to register its position after the loss of contact.
Search and rescue teams from the district administration, disaster management, the Army, and the State Disaster Response Force are combing the Joshimath valley, while a dedicated flight‑search squad is sifting satellite imagery.
Trans Bharat Aviation has grounded its entire fleet, and investigators are probing the crash amid a decade of 12 helicopter incidents in the state.
The incident underscores the risks of high‑altitude helicopter operations in Uttarakhand's treacherous terrain, where snowfall and sudden weather changes frequently hamper flight safety, and the crash investigation team will convene next week to determine the cause.