Friday, Apr 19, 2024 | Last Update : 05:47 PM IST
After second copter mishap, state govt likely to take action
On May 26, Mr Fadnavis’ helicopter, a Sikorsky (VT-CMM) had met with an accident in Latur.
Mumbai: A day after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis survived yet another the helicopter mishap, the state government is likely to take action against those responsible for it. The state government officials have expressed concerns over giving the same helicopter to the chief minister, whose engine had failed in May while he was travelling in naxal-hit Gadchiroli area.
On Friday, the chief minister survived another helicopter mishap in Alibaug. Due to the strong winds and the funnel effect, the pilot applied the brakes but could not control the speed. There were too many people around, so the pilot had no other option but to take off. However, he immediately landed again. The CM was standing on the left-hand side of the craft when it started moving. He immediately moved away to a safe distance.
This was the third copter mishap, which the chief minister escaped. Taking serious cognisance of breach of the security, a meeting of officials from general administration, state DGCA and home departments was held late evening on Friday at the chief minister’s bungalow.
The chief minister and a few officials expressed grave concerns over his safety. “It was suggested in the meeting that the state government should act on the issue and take immediate action against those who are responsible for the mishap,” an official said.
The concern is that the same VT-UPB numbered Bel 230 copter, which was used on Friday, had developed a technical snag in Gadchiroli in May while the CM was travelling. It was manufactured in 1995, and the Uttar Pradesh government had sold it because it had become old. The state officials were not able to explain why the chief minister was flying in such an old helicopter.
On May 26, Mr Fadnavis’ helicopter, a Sikorsky (VT-CMM) had met with an accident in Latur. The helicopter detected variable wind pattern after taking off from Latur, and the pilot decided to land on the temporary helipad. However, during the landing, the rotor blades of the helicopter got entangled in electric cables near the helipad.
