Police escort Devendra Fadnavis after his helicopter crash-landed following a technical snag shortly after take-off at Nilanga in Latur on Thursday. PTIMumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday had a close shave when his helicopter got entangled in overhead wires and crash-landed in Latur district after the pilot tried to descend due to bad weather, soon after take-off.
The chief minister didn't suffer any injury in the incident and all the six persons on board are safe.
The crash-landing occurred soon after the chopper with six persons on board, including three CMO officials and two crew, took off at around 12 noon from Nilanga, around 45 km from Latur, for Mumbai.
"It was a crash-landing. When we took off, we noticed that the chopper was slanting. There was air pressure. It brushed against (electric) wires," Fadnavis said, after reaching Mumbai by another aircraft from Latur.
The CM's banker wife Amruta Fadnavis expressed relief that her husband had escaped unhurt in the crash.
"Devendra ji called me and informed that he was safe. He also spoke to (his) mother," Amruta said, adding the CM was very calm when he spoke.
Among those who called up Fadnavis to inquire about his well being were prime minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik, an official said.
The state government's six-year-old Sikorsky chopper was damaged beyond repair, an official of civil aviation regulator directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) told PTI.
The incident will be investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), which comes under the civil aviation ministry, the official said. The AIB probes all accidents and serious incidents involving Indian aircraft.
Fadnavis tweeted after the accident that he was safe.
The chief minister later proceeded by road to Latur and boarded an aircraft to fly to Mumbai.
The DGCA official said the six-seater helicopter suffered substantial damage and would have to be "written off".
"After taking-off at around 12 noon, the pilot observed a variable wind pattern and decided to land. In the process, the helicopter got entangled in wires," the official said, adding that all on board are safe and escaped without any serious injury.
The aviation authorities spoke to the commander of the flight as well as the chief minister, he said, noting that they confirmed the well-being of all the occupants.
The chopper was scheduled to land at the governor's house Raj Bhavan, near the CM's official residence 'Varsha' in Mumbai, as usual, an official said.
Fadnavis had gone to Latur in Marathwada region for the BJP's 'Shivar Sanwad Sabha', a state-wide campaign to reach out to farmers.
Those aboard the helicopter along with the chief minister included senior IAS officer Praveen Pardeshi, his personal assistant Abhimanyu Pawar and media adviser Ketan Pathak.
"I am safe. There was a minor accident involving the helicopter. People shouldn't believe in rumors. Nobody got hurt. Pathak has suffered minor injuries. With the blessings of 11 crore people of Maharashtra, I am safe," Fadnavis told reporters in Nilanga.
He said information will be sought from the police on this incident.
Recently, on a tour to Gadchiroli in Vidarbha region, Fadnavis' helicopter had suffered a technical problem, following which he had to travel by road to Nagpur.
Maharashtra governor C. Vidyasagar Rao telephoned Fadnavis from Chennai and enquired about his well-being.
The governor said he was shocked to hear the news of the crash-landing and that he was relieved after being informed by Fadnavis that everyone was safe.
Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu also expressed relief that Fadnavis escaped unhurt.
Former deputy chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said the government should take extra precaution in ensuring proper maintenance of helicopters deployed for VIP duty.
"I thank almighty that CM is unhurt in today's accident. It is to be checked whether the periodic maintenance of choppers, flying VVIPs or any other person, is done or not," Pawar told reporters in Pune.
He demanded that there should be two pilots on a chopper carrying VVIPs. "New technology should be used in the maintenance of choppers," Pawar added.
Telangana chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao telephoned Fadnavis after coming to know about the incident and expressed happiness over the Maharashtra CM escaping safely, a release from Rao's office in Hyderabad said.
