October 2nd 2024.
Tragedy struck the skies of Pune on Wednesday as a helicopter crashed in the hilly terrain of Bavdhan, leaving three individuals- two pilots and an aircraft engineer- feared dead. The incident occurred around 7:50 a.m. when the chopper, which had taken off from Oxford Golf Club for a flight to Juhu Airport in Mumbai, crashed just three to four minutes after takeoff. According to a police officer at the site of the crash, the region was engulfed in thick fog, potentially contributing to the tragic accident.
This is not the first time such a mishap has occurred in the Pune hills. In fact, it is the second incident in just a few months, with the previous one taking place on August 24th when a private helicopter on a flight from Mumbai to Hyderabad crashed, injuring four individuals. Prior to that, on May 3rd, a helicopter carrying Shiv Sena leader Sushma Andhare crashed near a helipad in Raigad.
Chandrakant Patil, a Minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party, stated that initial reports suggest the crash may have been caused by a technical issue and poor visibility. However, an investigation will be conducted to determine the exact cause. There are also unverified reports that the helicopter was scheduled to fly NCP state President Sunil Tatkare later in the day. It was supposed to pick him up from Mumbai after flying to various locations in Beed the previous day.
The police were alerted about the crash by a caller and immediately dispatched a team, along with the local fire brigade, to the crash site. The location, situated in the hilly and densely forested area of the ghats, made it challenging for the authorities to reach the scene. The police also informed the aviation officials, who are sending a team of experts from Mumbai to investigate the tragedy.
The Hinjewadi Police Station is working alongside the aviation officials to gather more information about the incident. This includes identifying the victims, arranging for their bodies to be transferred for autopsy, and determining any other relevant details. As of now, we are still awaiting further updates on this heartbreaking event.
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