Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and five others experienced a significant mid-air scare on Saturday morning when their government helicopter was forced to execute an emergency landing in Lucknow. The incident occurred roughly thirty minutes after the flight departed from the La Martiniere School ground at 10:45 AM, headed for Kaushambi. While the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet near Bachhrawan, the cockpit display abruptly shut down and the cabin began to fill with smoke, prompting an immediate distress call to Air Traffic Control.
The pilots managed to navigate the helicopter back to Lucknow Airport under emergency protocols, successfully touching down at 11:15 AM. Ground teams, including fire departments and medical personnel, were on high alert as the smoke-filled vessel reached the tarmac. All six individuals on board, including the Deputy Chief Minister, his security detail, and the flight crew, were evacuated without injury. Early reports from the Civil Aviation Department indicate a potential failure in the electronic system, though a comprehensive investigation has been launched to identify the root cause of the malfunction.
Undeterred by the technical failure, the Deputy Chief Minister transitioned to a secondary helicopter shortly after the landing to continue his journey to Kaushambi. He is scheduled to inaugurate the two-day Saras Mahotsav programme as planned. This event reportedly marks the fourth time Maurya has encountered technical difficulties with state-provided aircraft, leading to renewed scrutiny of the maintenance standards upheld by the provincial aviation authorities.
