Maharashtra government to sell helicopter in which CM Devendra Fadnavis met with an accident in 2017

The state government has decided to sell the US made chopper named Sikorsky S76C++, a six-seater helicopter owned by state government, and in which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had a narrow escape in May 2017 while landing at Latur.

Following the accident, the helicopter was not in use, and the government had no plans to repair and bring it back to use. The state government has already placed orders for two new helicopters for the CM last year, the total worth of which is Rs 160 crore.

In May 2017, the helicopter crash-landed soon after it took off from a helipad at Nilanga in Latur after it got entangled with overhead cable wires. Fadnavis and others escaped unhurt, but the helicopter was badly damaged. Later, a probe indicated several lapses on part of the pilot over following the procedures for operations.

The helicopter has been used for a total of 1265 hours since its purchase in 2011 by the state government. All the four main rotor blades of the copter are damaged and had sheared off after the impact of the accident. Now, the state government has invited private parties to quote price for the helicopter on 'as is where is basis' basis. It will be sold to the private party that quotes the highest.

Confirming the sell, an official from state's civil aviation department said, "The helicopter is not in use since the accident, and we are awaiting delivery of a new helicopter. Hence, have decided to sell the one that is in a damaged condition."

The chopper purchased for around Rs 54 crore in 2011, informed the official.

A bid document floated for selling the helicopter reads, "It will be the responsibility of the successful bidder to obtain all permissions from concerned authorities for transfer of ownership and, in case, the successful bidder is located outside India, permission for export of the aircraft."

The document further reads, "All the costs for transfer of ownership of aircrafts along with spares, any taxes or duties that may be payable and cost of transporting including insurance and other such costs, will have to be borne by the successful bidder."