Aviation

Incredible picture captures moment woman walks away from wreckage of Grand Canyon helicopter crash

According to Daily Mail source : A veterinary receptionist, her boyfriend and his brother were killed during a ‘trip of a lifetime’ when the helicopter they were in crashed and exploded into a fireball during a sightseeing tour of the Grand Canyon.

Becky Dobson, 27, her boyfriend Stuart Hill, 30, and his older brother Jason, 32, all died while Jason’s girlfriend Jennifer Barham, 39, and newlyweds Ellie Milward, 29, and Jonathan Udall, 32 – who were on their honeymoon – are in a critical condition in hospital.

The six friends had spent a year saving for the trip to America to celebrate Stuart’s 30th birthday when their chopper crashed during a 50mph storm on the Hualapai Nation reservation near the Grand Canyon’s West Rim. Pilot Scott Booth, 42, was airlifted to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

Traumatised witnesses watched in horror as the chopper plummeted 600ft into the rocky canyon and burst into flames before survivors were seen staggering out of the inferno, with one woman heard screaming ‘Jason’.

It is unclear whether the survivor pictured fleeing the wreckage is Ms Barham or Ms Milward.

Stuart and Jason’s grief-stricken father, Reverend David Hill, said a ‘light has truly gone out’ but took comfort in the ‘incredibly close’ brothers dying together.

He choked back tears as described his sons, Stuart, a Mercedes car salesman, and Jason, a solicitor, as ‘wonderful boys’ who were ‘inseparable’.

Becky’s parents received the tragic news as they were enjoying a week-long holiday in Turkey and were flying back to the UK this morning. Her father said she was ‘always happy’ and looking forward to the trip.

The Eurocopter EC130 crashed in ‘unknown circumstances’ at around 5.30pm on Saturday, 60 miles northwest of Peach Springs, Arizona.

The tragedy occurred just three months after Ellie and Jonathan got married in front of family and friends, including Becky and Stuart.

Mr Hill, 32, was a private equity solicitor for national law firm Shoosmiths, after joining as a trainee and had worked his way up to senior associate with the company.

Shoosmiths chief executive Claire Rowe said they were ‘saddened’ by the tragic passing of a ‘respected’ and ‘loved’ member of their firm.

She said: ‘He was hardworking, full of energy and enjoyable to work with, and we are greatly saddened by the news of his death and that of his brother Stuart. Our immediate thoughts are with their family at this very difficult and tragic time.’

Stuart and Jason’s cousin, Holly Campbell, confirmed that Jason was with girlfriend Jennifer when the crash took place

She said: ‘This is a devastating time for our family.

‘We have spoken to my uncle and we all just trying to come to terms with what has happened.

‘I saw them both at my son’s christening in December. They were kind, caring and loved by all who knew and met them.’

Animal lover Becky Dobson described herself as an ‘outgoing person, always up for having fun.’

Becky worked as a receptionist at the Vets4Pets practice in Worthing, West Sussex, and had dreams of becoming a veterinary nurse.

Ms Dobson’s father Peter Dobson said his daughter was ‘full of life and looking forward to going to Vegas for her boyfriend’s 30th birthday to celebrate’.

He added: ‘She was a lovely girl. Everyone liked her, she liked her travelling – she went to Australia for a year to travel round.’

‘She was always happy. They just went for a long weekend; a four-night break. They were staying in Vegas, they had been looking forward to it for a long time.

‘They [Stuart and Becky] have known each other quite a while, they both live in Worthing.

‘They were really happy together, they were always going out and doing things, just enjoyed being with each other. The whole thing is just terrible.’

One witness told ABC News a young woman ‘collapsed to the ground and began screaming the name Jason’.

Hualapai Nation Police Chief Francis Bradley Sr. said the survivors were taken to a Las Vegas hospital at 2am on Sunday, some nine hours after the crash.

The four survivors are being treated as level one trauma patients, meaning they have critical, life-threatening injuries.

Aviation

India Launches Its Medium-Lift Class Helicopter Program, chooses New Engine

India’s longstanding need for a Medium Helicopter may soon become a reality as the country has fully ramped up its engine development efforts. This new helicopter is set to replace the Russian-built models currently in service and will play a crucial role across various scenarios for the Indian Armed Forces.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and SAFHAL Helicopter Engines Pvt. Ltd. (SAFHAL) have launched a groundbreaking partnership to develop a state-of-the-art high-power engine named Aravalli.

This new engine will power the upcoming 13-ton Medium Lift Helicopter (IMRH) and the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH), both of which are being designed and developed by HAL.

Named after the majestic Aravalli mountain range in India, the Aravalli engine symbolizes the country’s drive for self-reliance, or Aatmanirbharta, in critical engine technologies. This cutting-edge engine will be instrumental for the IMRH, a versatile 13-ton multi-role helicopter designed to meet the needs of the Indian armed forces, and the DBMRH, a 12.5-ton naval variant tailored for the Indian Navy.

The IMRH is poised to become a cornerstone of the Indian armed forces over the next decade. With its first flight expected in 3 to 4 years, the IMRH is anticipated to begin induction by 2030, with plans to integrate between 300 to 400 units, and potentially more in the future.

The IMRH is envisioned as a highly versatile multi-role helicopter that will enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian military. The DBMRH, designed for naval operations, will also face the challenges of high-altitude environments in regions such as Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh—areas of strategic importance due to their proximity to the China border.

In addition to its military applications, the Aravalli engine is projected to enter the civil market, serving roles in offshore operations, utility services, and VVIP transport. The long-term vision includes Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) activities to further extend the engine’s utility and support the aviation industry.

This collaboration between HAL and SAFHAL builds on their successful history of working together on the Shakti engine, which powers several HAL helicopters, including the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, the Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, and the Light Utility Helicopter. The proven success of this partnership lays a strong foundation for the development of the Aravalli engine, setting the stage for a new era in India’s helicopter capabilities.