Pune helicopter crash: All three onboard killed; police investigation underway

Preliminary information suggested the deceased comprised two pilots and an engineer

A helicopter crash in the Bavdhan area of Maharashtra’s Pune district on Wednesday (October 2, 2024) morning around 7.00 A.M., claimed three lives, including two crew pilots and an engineer.

The helicopter Agusta A109S Grand (VT EVV), belonging to a Delhi-based private firm Heritage Aviation, took off from the Oxford Golf Course helipad here and was heading to Juhu in Mumbai, an official said. The helicopter collapsed near the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).

The chopper was scheduled to pick up Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) State Chief Sunil Tatkare from Mumbai. Calling the incident unfortunate, Mr. Tatkare said, “The flight was booked by the party to travel to Raigad district for the election campaign.“

Speaking to The Hindu, Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinoykumar Choubey, said, “The technical reason behind the crash is yet to be ascertained, but as per primary information, this region experienced heavy fog this morning.”

Preliminary information suggested the deceased comprised two pilots and an engineer. The deceased identified are Captain Girish Kumar Pillai (53) a pilot from Andhra Pradesh, Captain Pritamchand Bhardwaj (56) an engineer from Navi Mumbai. and Captain Paramjit Singh (64) from Delhi. 

The deceased have been taken to Sassoon Hospital for autopsy.

“The chopper was heavily damaged, however, our teams have responded and the fire is controlled,” Mr. Choubey added.

The locals living near the K.K. Construction tekdi (hill, where the chopper crashed) informed the fire department about the helicopter crash. Four fire tenders and two rescue vans from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) were sent to the spot. “On reaching the spot, we found three people near the helicopter lying in unconscious position. The doctor announced them dead and the deceased bodies were sent to hospital. More information is yet to be ascertained,” said Chief Fire Officer, Devendra Prabhakar Potphode.

A case of accidental death will be registered at Hinjewadi Police Station. A team from Delhi will arrive to conduct a technical investigation into the accident, and the police are searching for the black box (flight data recorder).

Published - October 02, 2024 09:50 am IST