IAF chopper makes emergency landing in Mumbai city

Mumbai: An Indian Air Force (IAF) MI-17 helicopter on Wednesday made an emergency landing in the congested central business district of Bandra-Kurla Complex here due to some technical issues, officials said.

Four airmen on board were safe and the helicopter did not suffer any damage, officials said.

The chopper was on a routine training sortie from Santacruz to Colaba in the afternoon when it experienced technical problems, compelling the crew to land it at the MMRDA ground in the heart of the civilian suburb.

The chopper managed to avoid all high-rise government, residential and commercial buildings, hospitals and foreign missions, including the American Consulate and British Deputy High Commission in the area while landing in the MMRDA Grounds, usually a venue for political rallies, agitations and exhibitions.

"The helicopter made a precautionary landing. All crew and the chopper are safe," an official said, adding that the chopper was scheduled to land at the IAF base in Colaba, south Mumbai.

In the evening, the official said the technical problem was rectified at the landing site itself and the helicopter took off again and reached the Santacruz airport safely.

Hundreds of civilians trooped out of their offices to catch a glimpse of the landing chopper as Mumbai police cordoned off the area.