Pawan Hans Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing in Sea Near Port Blair; Passengers Rescued Safely
Synopsis
A Pawan Hans helicopter was forced to ditch into the sea shortly after takeoff from Port Blair, carrying seven individuals. Fortunately, all passengers were rescued unharmed, marking a miraculous escape from a potentially tragic incident.
Key Takeaways
Emergency Landing: Pawan Hans helicopter made an unexpected ditching into the sea.
All Rescued: Seven individuals on board were rescued without injuries.
Incident Timing: The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. shortly after takeoff.
Recent Tragedy: This incident follows a fatal crash in Jharkhand, raising safety concerns.
Investigation Ongoing: Authorities are currently investigating both aviation incidents.
Port Blair, Feb 24 (NationPress) - A Pawan Hans helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing into the sea on Tuesday morning shortly after departing from Port Blair, situated in the northern region of Middle Andaman Island. The aircraft was transporting a total of seven individuals at the time of the incident.
Fortunately, all passengers and crew members aboard the helicopter, which is part of the national helicopter service, were successfully rescued without any reported injuries.
A representative from Pawan Hans indicated that the occurrence transpired at approximately 9:30 a.m. The spokesperson characterized it as a "short landing incident near Mayabunder in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands", suggesting that the aircraft faced challenges during its landing approach.
"The helicopter had departed from Port Blair with two crew members and five passengers onboard. All have been accounted for and are unharmed. No injuries have been reported," the spokesperson stated.
According to officials familiar with the situation, the helicopter went down roughly 300 meters short of the runway while attempting to land at Mayabunder.
This incident unfolded just a day after a tragic plane crash in Jharkhand that resulted in the deaths of seven individuals. An air ambulance aircraft met with disaster in Chatra district on Monday evening, claiming the lives of everyone on board.
The Beechcraft C90 air ambulance, operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd, had taken off from Ranchi en route to Delhi when it crashed in the forested area of Bariatu Panchayat in Simaria.
The victims have been identified as Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat, Captain Savrajdeep Singh, Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta, Sachin Kumar Mishra, Sanjay Kumar, Archana Devi, and Dhuru Kumar.
In an official statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that the Beechcraft C90, registered as VT-AJV, was conducting a medical evacuation flight on the Ranchi-Delhi route at the time of the crash. The aircraft went down in Kasaria Panchayat of Chatra.
"The aircraft took off from Ranchi at 19:11 IST. Following contact with Kolkata at 19:34 IST, communication and radar contact were lost approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Varanasi," the statement noted.
Authorities are currently looking into both incidents.
Point of View
The recent emergency landing of a Pawan Hans helicopter demonstrates the importance of aviation safety and the effectiveness of rescue operations. While the incident raises concerns regarding flight safety protocols, the successful rescue emphasizes the resilience of emergency response teams.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Pawan Hans helicopter to ditch into the sea?
The helicopter encountered difficulties while attempting to land near Mayabunder, leading to an emergency ditching.
Were there any injuries reported from the helicopter incident?
No injuries were reported; all seven individuals on board were rescued safely.
How far was the helicopter from the runway when it went down?
The helicopter went down approximately 300 meters short of the runway while approaching Mayabunder.
What other aviation incidents occurred recently?
Just a day prior, a fatal air ambulance crash in Jharkhand resulted in the deaths of seven people.
What type of aircraft was involved in the Jharkhand crash?
The crash involved a Beechcraft C90 air ambulance operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd.
