Helicopter with six on board makes precautionary landing at school

MUMBAI: A Pawan Hans chopper with six passengers on board made a precautionary landing on a school ground at Kelwe Road, about 80 km north of Mumbai, owing to inclement

MUMBAI: A Pawan Hans chopper with six passengers on board made a precautionary landing on a school ground at Kelwe Road, about 80 km north of Mumbai, owing to inclement weather on Saturday.

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The passengers included senior officials of the Gas Authority of India Limited. The copter was heading from Baroda to Juhu Aerodrome, when the chopper pilot, Captain PJ Singh, encountered a huge cloud base that had come down to 200 feet.

As a standard safety protocol, the chopper landed in the school premises, which was closest open space to make a priority stopover, said officials.

A spokesperson with Pawan Hans Helicopter Limited (PHHL) confirmed the precautionary landing.

“The chopper made a precautionary safe landing owing to inclement weather. But it took off soon after the weather improved and has safely reached Juhu,” said the spokesperson.

Upesh Raut, a member of the Waksai Gram Panchayat, spotted the chopper and alerted the Kelwa police, said locals.

The chopper was sent to Gujarat for routine gas pipeline inspections, officials added.