Prez has narrow escape after chopper hits wall

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: President Pratibha Patil averted disaster after the rotor blades of her helicopter hit a building at the Bhuba-neswar airport on Wednesday. This is the second incident this year when the president's safety was compromised.
Patil was with her husband Devisingh Shekhawat and Orissa governor MC Bhandari, on her way back from the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The 16-seater Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter, carrying six more people, including Patil's security officers, had a smooth landing at 4.33pm, but on its way from the helipad to the parking place, its rotor blades hit an abandoned asbestos shed. The blades were damaged, destabilising the helicopter, but the chopper landed safely. Patil escaped unhurt and was whisked away to her waiting convoy. Three helicopters were parked nearby and there was a chance that Patil's chopper could have hit those.
A Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson described the incident as "minor", but aviation expert Air Marshal (retd) Denzil Keelor said it was "serious". An airport official said the helicopter could have caught fire after crash-landing.
Patil was disturbed after the accident; she went to the pilot herself inquiring about it.
Airport director Sanjay Jain ruled out "poor visibility" as the cause of the accident.
Jain said an inquiry has been initiated by the air force and the airport authority, but did not give details.
09/12/09 Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Dec 2009, Safety Dec 2009