Details of the Incident
The incident occurred around 9:30 am when the helicopter was approaching Mayabunder for landing. Officials stated that the aircraft ditched approximately 300 meters short of the runway. A spokesperson for Pawan Hans confirmed that the helicopter experienced a “short landing incident,” but emphasized that everyone onboard was safe.
Rescue and Safety Confirmation
All seven occupants, including two crew members and five passengers, were immediately rescued. “No injuries have been reported,” the Pawan Hans spokesperson said, highlighting the successful handling of the emergency situation. The company reassured the public that safety protocols were properly executed.
Context: Previous Aviation Incident
The helicopter mishap follows a tragic air ambulance crash in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday, which killed all seven people on board. The Beechcraft C90 air ambulance, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, was en route from Ranchi to Delhi when it went down in Simaria forest area. The deceased included pilots Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Captain Savrajdeep Singh, doctor Vikas Kumar Gupta, and other passengers. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the medical evacuation flight lost contact with Kolkata radar approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi.
