Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's helicopter was caught in a sudden spell of strong winds and thunderstorm near Maharashtra's Kalyan on Thursday. Acting promptly, the pilot assessed the deteriorating weather conditions and decided not to proceed further in order to ensure complete safety for everyone on board.
Due to poor visibility, heavy gusts and unstable air, the pilot chose to divert the chopper back to Mumbai as a precaution. The aircraft made a safe landing at the Juhu Airport and all passengers, including the Deputy Chief Minister, were reported safe.
Shinde was en route to attend a wedding
Shinde had taken off from Mahalaxmi Racecourse in south Mumbai at 3.30 pm to Murbad in Thane district to attend a wedding in the family of a party worker, an official said. However, as the helicopter reached Airoli, Navi Mumbai, the pilot saw an approaching storm and alerted Shinde, who decided to go back to Mumbai, the official said.
The helicopter subsequently landed at Pawan Hans' Juhu facility. Shinde was accompanied by his staff, including personal assistant Prabhakar Kale, special executive officer Balsingh Rajput and media adviser Vinay Patrdukar, the official said.
Ajit Pawar's death in helicopter crash
Earlier on January 28, then Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash along with four others while he was on his way to Baramati in Pune district. 66-year-old Pawar, who had taken off from Mumbai, and four other persons on board a Learjet 45 plane died after it crashed barely 200 metres from the edge of the tabletop airstrip at Baramati, his hometown in Pune district. The others killed in the tragedy were Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had a flying experience of 15,000 hours, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, with 1,500 hours of flying experience, Pawar's Personal Security Officer Vidip Jadhav and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
ALSO READ: Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra's longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister, dies in plane crash in Baramati
