Colonel (Retd.) Himanshu Sabharwal, a former Indian Army officer and helicopter pilot, died in the helicopter crash near Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on October 30, 2026. He was 48 and was flying the aircraft for Trans Bharat Aviation Pvt. Ltd. when the accident took place.
Crash details and search operation
The helicopter involved carried registration number VT-HCX and was identified as an AS350B3 single-engine aircraft. It departed from the Badrinath civil helipad at about 1:14 pm on October 30 and was headed to Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun with five passengers on board.
According to the report, the aircraft lost communication shortly after takeoff and then vanished from tracking systems while passing over the Joshimath valley. Army personnel in the area reportedly saw smoke and the helicopter descending rapidly near the Hathi Parvat area. The wreckage was later found in a forested mountainous location near Chai village, close to the JP Power House and Marwari Bridge.
All six occupants died in the accident. The five passengers, who were from Karnataka, were identified as Arun Salunke, a 44-year-old Bengaluru Central Crime Branch police inspector; H.S. Nataraja; Pratapa; Sudhir K.; and V.B. Shankar Gowda.
Personnel from the Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF, Uttarakhand Police and the district administration joined the search and recovery effort. The operation was made difficult by rough terrain, poor visibility and adverse weather. All six bodies were eventually recovered from the crash site.
Investigations and unanswered questions
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has started a preliminary assessment, and aviation authorities are examining the circumstances of the crash. Adverse weather and reduced visibility were reported in the region, but the exact cause of the accident has not yet been established. Trans Bharat Aviation has also grounded its helicopter fleet as a precautionary step.
The report notes that the cause remains uncertain at this stage, with no confirmed conclusion publicly stated yet. The available details point to the sequence of the crash and the recovery effort, while the final finding is still under review.
Life, service and remembrance
Colonel Sabharwal lived in Shalimar Bagh in West Delhi. He had served in the Indian Army Aviation Corps before taking premature retirement and moving into commercial helicopter operations. His military associations reportedly included the Sikh Light Infantry, and he had also held a commanding appointment during his Army career.
He was also remembered as a longtime resident of West Shalimar Bagh who studied at Modern Public School in the neighbourhood. Locals described him as cheerful, respectful and generous, and said he remained closely connected to the community despite his professional commitments.
His neighbour Rakesh Grover recalled that Sabharwal was widely known as “Colonel” in the locality because of his Army service and commanding appointments. Former colleagues and fellow Army officers also paid tribute to him, remembering him as a skilled aviator, humble leader and fine officer who willingly shared his professional knowledge with juniors.
During his civilian flying career, Colonel Sabharwal was associated with special helicopter operations, including ceremonial flower-petal showers over the Sri Harmandir Sahib area in Amritsar during celebrations marking Guru Ram Das Ji’s Parkash Purab. He reportedly considered such religious and ceremonial flights a privilege.
He is survived by his wife, two children, parents and younger brother, Kunal Sabharwal, who is an advocate based in Delhi. For those who knew him, Colonel Himanshu Sabharwal will be remembered as an experienced helicopter pilot and a former Army officer who continued his passion for aviation after leaving military service.
