Tragic Helicopter Crash in Pune Claims Lives of Two Pilots and Engineer

In a devastating incident on Wednesday morning, a private helicopter crashed in the hilly terrain of Pune’s Bavdhan region, resulting in the deaths of two pilots and an engineer. The AgustaWestland AW109 helicopter, which was chartered by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for election campaigning, went down shortly after takeoff.

 Details of the Crash

The helicopter, registered as VT EVV and owned by Delhi-based Heritage Aviation, departed from a helipad at the Oxford Golf Resort at 7:30 AM, heading to Juhu in Mumbai. It crashed around 7:40 AM, just ten minutes into its flight. All three individuals on board—pilots Girish Kumar Pillai and Paramjeet Singh, along with engineer Pritam Bhardwaj—died instantly as the aircraft caught fire upon impact.

 Possible Causes Under Investigation

While the precise cause of the crash remains unknown, senior police officials have suggested that dense fog in the area may have played a role. Reports indicate that visibility at the time of takeoff was only 1.2 kilometers, raising concerns about the decision to fly in such conditions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the accident.

NCP Leadership Reacts

Sunil Tatkare, the Maharashtra chief of the NCP, expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy. He stated, “Our party had booked this chopper for our election campaign. Yesterday, I travelled on the same chopper. I was supposed to go to Raigad. Unfortunately, this incident happened.” Tatkare was scheduled to use the helicopter to travel to Raigad on Wednesday morning.

 Emergency Response and Recovery Efforts

Pimpri Chinchwad police commissioner Vinoy Kumar Choubey reported that emergency response teams arrived at the crash site promptly, noting that the helicopter had scattered debris and was engulfed in flames. Fire department officials deployed four water tankers and a fire tender to the scene. Chief fire officer Devendra Prabhakar Potphode stated, “We were able to extract three casualties, and they were handed over to the police. Other information is yet to be ascertained.”

 Recent Trends in Aviation Safety

This tragic accident marks the third helicopter crash in Maharashtra within the last five months. Previously, on August 24, another private helicopter crashed in Pune’s Mulshi region due to poor visibility, injuring four people. Earlier in May, a helicopter crashed while attempting to land in Mahad, injuring the pilot and involving an NCP leader in a campaign-related flight.

As investigations continue, the aviation community and local authorities are reminded of the critical importance of flight safety, especially under challenging weather conditions.