Pawan Hans helicopter makes emergency landing in the middle of the sea, 5 people safe
A helicopter operated by Pawan Hans made an emergency landing in the sea while flying from Port Blair to Mayabunder in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Fortunately, both crew members and all three passengers onboard are safe.
Authorities have launched efforts to retrieve the helicopter from the water. The exact reason behind the emergency landing has not yet been officially disclosed.
What is Pawan Hans?
Pawan Hans is India’s largest state-owned helicopter service provider. Established in 1985, the company plays a crucial role in connecting remote and difficult-to-access regions of the country.
The company mainly performs three key functions:
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Offshore operations: Transporting personnel to oil rigs such as those operated by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.
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Regional connectivity: Providing air links to mountainous and island regions including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the North-East.
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Pilgrimage services: Operating helicopter services for challenging religious routes like Kedarnath and Vaishno Devi.
Headquartered in Noida, Pawan Hans operates a fleet of more than 40 helicopters. In the Andaman region, the service is often considered a lifeline because it significantly reduces travel time between islands.
SpiceJet flight also makes emergency landing
In a separate incident, a flight operated by SpiceJet from Delhi to Leh was forced to return shortly after takeoff due to a technical snag.
The aircraft made a precautionary landing at Delhi Airport after a malfunction was detected in engine number two. Around 150 passengers were onboard, and all are reported safe.
Bottom line:
Both incidents ended without injuries, thanks to timely precautionary action by the flight crews. Investigations are expected to reveal the exact technical causes.