India: 3 killed as chopper to Mumbai crashes in Pune

Three people were killed on Wednesday morning when the helicopter they were flying in crashed in the Bavdhan area of Pune while on its way to Mumbai.

Vinoykumar Choubey, Police Commissioner, Pimpri Chinchwad, confirmed the deaths. “The chopper was on its way to Juhu from Oxford Golf Course resort. Our teams have responded,” Choubey said.

According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Girishkumar Pillai, Pritamchand Bharadwaaj, and Paramjeet.

A senior police officer said initial information from locals suggested that there was a mist when the chopper, operated by a firm named Heritage Aviation, took off.

Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party President Sunil Tatkare was supposed to fly in the chopper to his residence in Sutarwadi, Raigad. “The chopper was slated to come to Mumbai and take me to my residence in Raigad district,” Tatkare told The Indian Express.

Tatkare flew in the chopper to Beed on Tuesday where he attended the Jansaman rally of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

According to the Hinjewadi police, their teams along with that of the fire brigade responded to the reports of a helicopter crash in Bavdhan. As per reports, the crash might have happened before 7 am. Three fire tenders have been pressed into service to control the fire.

“The police control room and district disaster management control room have informed authorities at the office Director General of Civil Aviation. DGCA will launch a probe into the crash,” said Vishal Gaikwad, Deputy Ccommissioner of Police.

On August 24, a private helicopter, which had taken off from Juhu in Mumbai and was headed towards Hyderabad, crashed near a village in Paud. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passengers were unhurt.

(Indian Express)

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