Who Was Lt Col (Retd) Rajveer Singh Chauhan? Former Indian Army Officer And Pilot Of Ill-Fated Bell 407 Helicopter That Crashed In Uttarakhand

Seven people, including a pilot of a Bell 407 helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation, died in a crash in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Sunday, June 15. The incident took place near Gaurikund when the chopper was flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi with pilgrims aboard. Among the deceased was a two-year-old child. The pilot of the helicopter was Lt Col (Retd.) Rajveer Singh Chauhan.

After the incident, the Uttarakhand government reportedly suspended all helicopter services on the Char Dham Yatra route for two days. A high-level probe has been ordered.

The retired Army officer’s father said that he got the information about the accident from Lt Col (Retd.) Chauhan’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,” Govind Singh Chauhan, the retired Army officer’s father, said, as reported by The Indian Express.

Who Was Lt Col (Retd.) Rajveer Singh Chauhan?
Lt Col (Retd.) Chauhan served in the Indian Army for 15 years. His wife is also serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army. The couple became parents of twins four months ago after 14 years of marriage. Lt Col (Retd.) Chauhan completed his Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from the University of Rajasthan in 2007.

Lt Col (Retd.) Chauhan, in his LinkedIn bio, had written, “My role 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.”

As a Lieutenant, he was entrusted with the responsibility of commanding a forward post on the Line of Control.

“Leading 108 soldiers directly in the face of the enemy, I ensured the safeguarding of our post under severe weather conditions and in counter-insurgency-prone areas. My leadership facilitated the readiness of my team for swift operations, contributing significantly to the peace and prosperity of the local area, positively affecting the lives of over 10,000 local residents,” Lt Col (Retd.) Chauhan had mentioned.

He joined Aryan Aviation Private Limited as a helicopter pilot in October last year. He had over 2,000 hours of flying experience.