Two pilots and an engineer died after a helicopter crashed at Bavdhan in Pune shortly after take-off this morning. The helicopter belonged to Delhi-based firm Heritage Aviation, police have said. The three victims have been identified as pilots Girish Kumar Pillai and Paramjit Singh and engineer Pritamchand Bharadwaj.
Shashikant Mahavarkar, Joint Commissioner of Police for Pimpri Chinchwad, said the helicopter took off from Oxford Golf Club's helicopter at 7.30 am and crashed within minutes. Police have said dense fog in the area may have led to the crash. The helicopter, police said, was headed to Juhu in Mumbai.
Visuals from the crash sight showed a massive wreckage and tall flames.
News agency PTI reported that an official from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the incident occurred at 7.40 am. The official confirmed that the Agusta 109 helicopter that crashed belonged to Heritage Aviation.
The helicopter caught fire after the crash. Police have rushed fire engines and water tankers to the spot. Police have said a detailed investigation will confirm the exact cause of the crash.
