Pawan Hans Helicopter with ONGC Employees Onboard Crashes Near Mumbai Coast, Three Bodies Recovered
The Navy said it had deployed its stealth frigate INS Teg for the search operation while surveillance aircraft P8i is also being press into service.
Mumbai, January 13: A Pawan Hans helicopter, which was heading to ONGC's north field with seven persons onboard, went missing off the Mumbai coast today, official sources said. The chopper, Dauphin N3, bearing registration number VT-PWA, took off from Juhu aerodrome at 10.25 AM, with five ONGC employees and two pilots onboard, they said. While the search and rescue operation is underway, the early reports claim one body to have been recovered and others are feared to be dead.
The chopper was scheduled to land at the designated oil rig at Mumbai High at 11 AM, the sources said. Search operations are on, they added. The Navy said it had deployed its stealth frigate INS Teg for the search operation while surveillance aircraft P8i is also being press into service.
Defence Minister N Sitharaman took to Twitter to inform about extending assistance in the search and rescue operation as well as wishing for the safety of people on board.
"2 Immediate Support Vessels (ISV) deployed for patrol in the area have been diverted for search and rescue along with 3 Coast Guard units already in the area. Sea King 42B helicopter being launched in addition," Navy Spokesperson told news agency ANI.
"Navy & Coast Guard are on their job. I am also going to Mumbai to coordinate things. I will discuss it with Defense Minister. She is also cooperating & has instructed Navy & Coast Guard to look into the issue extensively," said Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas was to ANI on the crash of ONGC's Pawan Hans Helicopter.