Maharashtra CM’s chopper force lands due to overloading

MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ helicopter, which was heading to Aurangabad, had to be forcelanded in Nashik immediately after take-off on Saturday morning because of overloading.

The chopper took off for Aurangabad after the cook accompanying the CM got off. The chief minister’s office, however, said no major incident was reported and offloading extra passengers was routine.

F ad na vis had stayed overnight in Nashik on Friday after attending several programmes. He was scheduled to inaugurate Maharashtra National Law University in Aurangabad around 10am on Saturday. However, after taking off, the pilot could not take the chopper to the required height as it had too many passengers.

“As it could not ascend even a few feet, the pilot was forced to land again. The chopper was struggling to take off as its main rotor was unable to lift and push it forward. After it stabilised, it made a descent to the ground ,” an official present during the incident said. The temporary he lip ad was made at an open ground.

Besides Fadnavis, the helicopter had his personal secretary, water resources minister Girish Mahajan and CM’s cook Satish. After the cook a lighted, the chopper took off and reached Au rangab ad. The cook later travel led to Aurangabad by road. HTC