Pawan Hans helicopter carrying 7 crashes into Andaman sea

A Pawan Hans helicopter carrying seven people crashed into the sea after it took off from Middle and North Andaman district on Tuesday morning. The seven people on board, including two crew members, have been rescued. The crash occurred around 9.30 am. The helicopter took off from Rangat and the crash occurred around 9.30 am before its scheduled landing at Mayabunder in the district. A preliminary inquiry revealed that there was some technical snag, and the pilot made a crash-landing on the sea, news agency PTI reported a senior Civil Aviation official as saying. All seven people, including an infant, were rescued mid-sea and admitted to hospital, an official said. North & Middle Andaman Deputy Commissioner Sushant Padha said the rescue team, the police and Coast Guard acted promptly. An inquiry has been initiated. A Pawan Hans spokesperson told PTI: “The helicopter took off from Port Blair at around 8.30 am for Rangat. At 9.10 am, it took off for Mayabunder and was to land at 9.30 am. It, however, ditched into the sea 300 m short of the runway. There were five passengers on board and two crew members. All have been rescued and are safe.” Pawan Hans Ltd is a central public sector undertaking based in Noida. North & Middle Andaman Deputy Commissioner Sushant Padha said the rescue team, the police and Coast Guard acted promptly and rescued all seven people. Civil Aviation Director Nitesh Rawat said, “A total of seven people were onboard, including the pilot. All are safe, and we are yet to take the statement of the pilot. All injured persons are undergoing treatment at Dr Rajendra Prasad Hospital in Mayabunder. We are trying to bring the injured people to Sri Vijaya Puram.” This comes a day after an air ambulance carrying seven people crashed near Simaria in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, killing all aboard. The plane was travelling from Ranchi to Delhi when the accident took place.