In a precautionary safety move, a helicopter scheduled to ferry Maharashtra state environment minister Pankaja Munde from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Latur was grounded after a technical snag was spotted by an aircraft maintenance engineer. The incident led to the immediate cancellation of the flight, ensuring no compromise on safety protocols.
Election Campaign Disruption and Swift Resolution
Pankaja Munde was on a Marathwada tour to campaign for the upcoming zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections. She was scheduled to depart on Tuesday morning, but the planned take-off was called off after the pilot informed the airport director about the technical issue identified by the engineer. Despite this brief disruption, Munde later flew to Latur in another helicopter, with her office confirming that alternative arrangements were made swiftly to avoid inconvenience to party workers and supporters.
Airport Director and DGCA Provide Details
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport director Sharad Yeole explained the sequence of events. "Yesterday (Monday), the same chopper was in service of minister Pankaja Munde and took her to different places. At night, after parking it at the hangar, the pilot was informed of a technical snag. Accordingly, the minister's scheduled take-off for Tuesday in this chopper was called off. The communication was passed on to those concerned," he stated.
Airport sources emphasized that the fault was detected during routine checks, and standard safety procedures were strictly followed, leading to the flight cancellation. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a detailed statement clarifying the technical aspects.
DGCA Statement Excerpt: "On Monday, Agusta 109 Helicopter Registration VT-OSC of M/s Lakework Office Club Pvt. Ltd, was operating a flight with minister Pankaja Munde and others on board. The helicopter operated four sectors, and after the last landing at Aurangabad Airport, at approximately 1700 hrs, the aircraft maintenance engineer (AME), during post-flight checks, noticed ‘excessive play in the pitch operating link rod of one main rotor blade'. Consequently, the AME flagged the issue and did not release the helicopter for further flights pending rectification. As per the operator, the charter-indenting agency was informed at around 2000 hrs, and Tuesday's sorties were also cancelled at approximately 2100 hrs."
Minister's Response and Political Context
After addressing an election rally at Kingaon in Latur district, Pankaja Munde spoke to reporters about the incident. "I do not know what exactly the fault was. When I was about to leave for the tour, I was informed that the helicopter would not be able to fly," she said, downplaying the technical issue.
The minister also addressed unrelated political queries during the interaction. When asked about Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut raising questions over the death of Ajit Pawar, Munde asserted that such issues should not be politicized. Regarding whether the Ladki Bahin scheme should be named after Ajit Pawar, she stated that the decision would be taken by the chief minister, adding, "We will support whatever decision the chief minister takes."
This incident highlights the importance of rigorous safety checks in aviation, especially when transporting high-profile individuals during critical events like election campaigns. The swift response from airport authorities and the DGCA ensured that safety remained the top priority, with minimal disruption to the minister's schedule.
