Fadnavis narrowly escapes helicopter's rotor blades

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had a close shave yet again on Friday when his helicopter took off and the rotor blades came very close to his head.

This is the third time that Fadnavis narrowly escaped a helicopter accident.  In May, his chopper had crashed at Nilanga in Latur district. Another incident, also in May, involved a technical snag with his helicopter in Gadchiroli district.

Officials from the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that Fadnavis is safe. Friday’s incident took place at the helipad of JSW Steel at Alibaug, the headquarters of Raigad district.

The chief minister was in Raigad to attend the birthday celebrations of Peasants and Workers Party of India president and legislator Jayant Patil.

Just as the chief minister was about to board the chopper, it took off unexpectedly and titled, and the rotor blades came very close to his head. However, an alert security personnel pulled Fadnavis to safety.

Later, an aircraft technician checked the rotors, and the chief minister flew back to Mumbai in the same chopper.

Talking about the mishap, Raigad District Collector P D Malikner said, “There might have been some issue, maybe some fault of the pilot.”