Raipur: Two pilots died in a helicopter crash at the Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur on Thursday evening. Reportedly, the pilots were descending for landing after a training session when the helicopter caught fire killing both flyers. The deceased pilots have been identified as Captain AP Shrivastava and Captain Gopal Krishna Panda.
Soon after the incident was reported a chaotic atmosphere was created at the airport which was later brought under control by joint efforts of the fire brigade department and CISF. The cause of the incident is not known immediately. A detailed technical investigation has been ordered by DGCA and the CG govt.
CM Baghel expressed grief on the demise of the two and instructed the state administration to immediately provide assistance to the families of the bereaved. “Just got sad news about the state helicopter crashing at the airport in Raipur. In this tragic accident, both our pilots Captain Panda and Captain Shrivastava died. May God give strength to his family members and peace to the departed soul in this time of grief”, Baghel said in a tweet.
Apart from CM Baghel, CG Assembly speaker and LoP Dharmalal Kaushik have expressed grief over the incident.