Coast Guard helicopter makes emergency landing in Raigad

A lady pilot was injured when a Chetak helicopter of the Indian Coast Guard had to make an emergency landing near the Nandgaon beach at Murud in the Raigad coast, nearly 200 kms from downtown Mumbai.

A total of four persons including two pilots were on board the chopper, CG-803, when the landing was necessitated because of technical issues.

The four onboard include Deputy Commandant Balwinder Singh, Assistant Commandant Penny Choudhary, Naviks - Sandeep and Baljeet.

Assistant Commandant Choudhary is currently admitted to INHS Asvini, the command hospital of the Indian Navy at Colaba in Mumbai.

The aircraft was on a routine surveillance sortie. "Preliminary report intimates that the crew experienced technical difficulties 25 minutes after the takeoff," an ICG spokesperson said.

Immediately after the incident, two Chetak helicopters and a Seaking helicopter of the Indian Navy and a Mi 17 of the Indian Air Force took off for the search and rescue mission. "The crew was lifted and taken to INHS Asvini," an Indian Navy spokesperson said.

ICG officials said that Deputy Commandant Singh not only managed to save the helicopter from total damage but also avoided landing in crowded areas and the sea. "All are alive because of their skill," an official said.