MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, Highways and Water Resources Nitin Gadkari had a near escape on Thursday as the alert pilot of helicopter they were boarding, spotted a hanging cable above helipad and landed the helicopter at a nearby safe place instead of the helipad.
This is the fourth such incident for CM Fadnavis over last one year.
After the foundation laying function for the international Cruise Terminal at the Indira Docks in Mumbai Port, Fadnavis and Gadkari left for the next function for foundation laying of Versowa bridge on Mumbai-Ahemadabad highway in a helicopter. The helicopter was to land at the Seven Elevan Acadamy – an elite school owned by BJP MLA Narendra Mehta.
However, when the helicopter started descending at the school building, the pilot spotted a cable hanging from terrace of one building to the terrace of another building above the helipad. The alert pilot then pulled back the helicopter and landed at a nearby safe place.
A ground engineer was suspended in the case and on their way back Fadnavis and Gadkari preferred to travel by road.
This is the fourth incident when Fadnavis had to face trouble due to his helicopter.
On 25 May 2017 at Latur his helicopter encountered cross winds and rotor blades brushed high-tension wires within minutes of taking off.
On 7 July 2017 at Alibaug his helicopter suddenly started taking off and tilted sideways even as he waited near its door. Security guards had to pull him back to safety.
On 9 December 2017 at Nashik his helicopter failed to take off properly and had to do an emergency landing to off load a couple of his staff members.