Devendra Fadnavis' chopper crash-lands in Latur, Maharashtra CM safe; AIB to probe mishap

Latur: A chopper carrying Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis crash-landed at Nilanga in Latur district on Thursday when the pilot tried to descend because of bad weather, soon after take-off.

The CM and his team have escaped unhurt.

The helicopter, which had six persons on board including two crew members, got entangled in overhead wires while landing at Nilanga area where the CM had held a programme.

The Maharashtra CM took to microblogging website Twitter to assure that he and his team were safe.

"Our helicopter did meet with an accident in Latur but me and my team is absolutely safe and ok. Nothing to worry."

After taking off at around 12 noon today, the pilot observed a variable wind pattern and decided to land. During landing, the helicopter got entangled in wires, the official said, adding that all six persons who were on board are safe and escaped without serious injuries.

The authorities spoke to the commander of the flight as well as the chief minister. Both informed about the well-being of all occupants, the official said.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it was an accident and the chopper suffered substantial damage.

Fadnavis had gone to Latur in Marathwada for the BJP's 'Shivar Samwad Sabha', a statewide campaign to reach out to farmers.

"I am safe. There was a minor accident involving the helicopter. People shouldn't believe in rumours," Fadnavis later told mediapersons.

"Nobody got hurt. My media advisor Ketan Pathak has suffered minor injuries. With the blessings of 11 crore people of Maharashtra, I am safe," he told reporters at Nilanga.

He added that the pilot too had not been injured seriously.

"This is a new helicopter. We will seek information from police on this incident," the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister also issued a video wherein he is seen assuring the people that he was safe. "Due to the blessings of all - more than 11 crore people of Maharashtra and Maa Bhawani, I am safe and absolutely unharmed," he said.

Our helicopter did meet with an accident in Latur but me and my team is absolutely safe and ok.
Nothing to worry. — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 25, 2017

The Chief Minister, who was in Latur since yesterday to take account of the drought relief works, was returning to Mumbai when the mishap took place.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation (AIB) bureau, which comes under the Civil Aviation Ministry, will investigate the mishap. The AIB probes all accidents and serious incidents involving Indian aircraft.

Recently, on a tour to Gadchiroli in Vidarbha region, his helicopter had suffered a technical snag, following which he had travel by road to Nagpur.