Pune Helicopter Crash: Dense Fog Causes Fatal Accident; Helicopter was Scheduled to Pick Up MP Tatkare from Mumbai

Reported by Varad Bhatkhande

Bavdhan, 2nd October 2024: Earlier today, a helicopter crashed in Pune’s Bavdhan area, under the jurisdiction of the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate (PCPC), resulting in the deaths of three people, including the pilot. Several details have emerged, including reports that the helicopter was en route to pick up Raigad MP Sunil Tatkare to travel to Mumbai and that the crash was caused by dense fog, which led to low visibility for the pilots.

The deceased have been identified as Pilot Girish Kumar Pillai (53), Captain Paramjeet Singh (64), and Engineer Pritam Bharadwaj (56).

According to police reports, the incident occurred around 7:30 AM today. The AgustaWestland AW109 helicopter from Heritage Aviation Private Limited had landed at the helipad of the Oxford County Resort the previous night and remained there overnight. This morning, it was scheduled to depart for Mumbai to pick up Raigad MP Sunil Tatkare. However, just five minutes after takeoff and less than two kilometres into the journey, the pilot lost control. The helicopter veered off course and crashed in the hilly area of KK Construction Hill near Bavdhan due to fog.

The control room of the PCPC was notified, and the Hinjawadi Police, under whose jurisdiction the incident occurred, rushed to the spot. Fire brigade vehicles from Warje, Aundh, Kothrud, PMRDA, and other areas also responded to the emergency, as the helicopter was engulfed in flames. The bodies were recovered from the wreckage and sent to Sassoon General Hospital in Pune for postmortem. A case of accidental death has been registered by Hinjawadi Police Station. Media reports have claimed that the bodies were severely damaged, complicating the identification process.

Providing information about the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Vishal Gaikwad stated, “Just a few minutes after taking off from the helipad, the helicopter crashed in the hilly area of Bavdhan. Two pilots and an engineer have died in the crash. Preliminary speculation is that the accident was due to dense fog, but the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) team will conduct a technical investigation into the incident.”