A private helicopter operated by a private aviation company crashed near Paud village in Pune district while traveling from Juhu, Mumbai, to Hyderabad.
The helicopter had four people on board. Among them, three passengers are in stable condition, while one person, who sustained critical injuries, was rushed to a nearby hospital. Authorities are currently evaluating the situation, according to SP Pankaj Deshmukh of Pune Rural Police.
#UPDATE | Among the 4 people who were in the Helicopter, captain sustained injuries and is hospitalised. The rest of the three persons are in stable condition: SP Pankaj Deshmukh Pune Rural Police https://t.co/9GmQwt2Aku
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2024
The helicopter involved in the crash is an AugustaWestland AW139, a twin-engine model with seating for 8 to 12 passengers. Ishwarchandra Gulgule, managing director of Kaigu Aviation Private Limited, suggested that weather conditions might have played a role. “It appears to be a forced landing, possibly due to poor weather. All aircraft, including helicopters, undergo thorough checks by pilots and engineers before take-off,” he explained. This incident follows a similar crash on May 3, where a Bell 407 helicopter went down while attempting to land in Mahad, Raigad district.
Further details are awaited.
