Tragedy struck on Wednesday morning when a helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in Maharashtra’s Pune district, killing at least three people. According to Pune Police, the helicopter belonged to Delhi-based Heritage Aviation and took off from the Oxford Golf Course helipad at around 7:30 AM. The ill-fated chopper was en route to Beed, Maharashtra, where it was scheduled to pick up NCP leader Sunil Tatkare before flying to Mumbai.
Just five minutes after takeoff, the helicopter lost control and crashed. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by a fire engulfing the wreckage. Preliminary reports suggest that low visibility due to heavy fog in the area was a major factor in the accident. A senior Pune Police official stated, “The crash occurred five minutes into the flight. Heavy fog and low visibility are suspected to have caused the accident.”
This tragic incident marks yet another helicopter crash in Pune in recent months. In August 2024, a private helicopter, an AW 139 model, crashed near Paud village while on a flight from Mumbai’s Juhu to Hyderabad. Four people were injured in that crash, with passengers including Anand Captain, Deer Bhatia, Amardeep Singh, and SP Ram. All four survived, with minor injuries.
Wednesday’s crash has reignited concerns over flight safety in Maharashtra’s aviation sector, especially with the challenges posed by adverse weather conditions. The investigation into this latest accident is ongoing, with officials from both Pune Police and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on-site to collect evidence.
Heritage Aviation, the company owning the helicopter, expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and confirmed that it is cooperating fully with investigators. Meanwhile, NCP leader Sunil Tatkare, who was the intended passenger, released a statement expressing shock and grief over the loss of lives in the crash.
The names of the victims have not yet been released as authorities work to inform their families. Further details are expected to emerge once the black box is recovered and a thorough investigation into the crash’s causes is completed.
