SATV 8 June, Kathmandu: In a dramatic turn of events, a helicopter carrying five passengers made an emergency landing on a highway in Guptkashi, Uttarakhand, on Friday afternoon. The Kestrel Aviation chopper, en route from Rudraprayag to Kedarnath, encountered a technical snag just after take-off, prompting pilot Captain RPS Sodhi to land the aircraft on the road to avoid disaster.

The helicopter's collective control reportedly got stuck during take-off from the Badasu (Sersi) helipad. Though a car was damaged in the landing, all passengers escaped unharmed. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital.

Footage of the incident shared by ANI shows the chopper parked on the road as locals gather around. Shuttle services in the region continue as normal, according to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation, sending a team to assess the site. This incident follows a series of helicopter mishaps along the Chardham Yatra route, including a recent emergency landing of an AIIMS-operated ambulance chopper and a fatal crash on May 8 that claimed six lives near Uttarkashi.