Sri Vijaya Puram, February 24 A Pawan Hans helicopter carrying seven people, including the crew, crashed into the sea after taking off from Mayabunder in the North and Middle Andaman district on Tuesday morning, and all were rescued, officials said.
The accident occurred around 9:30 am, they said.
All the passengers and crew members, rescued from the mid-sea, have been admitted to a hospital, one of the officials said.
"The helicopter took off from Sri Vijaya Puram around 8:45 am, and it crashed into the sea around 9:30 am. An initial investigation revealed that there was a technical malfunction, and the pilot made an emergency landing in the sea," a senior Civil Aviation official said.
An investigation has been initiated, he said.
Officials of Pawan Hans, a central public sector undertaking based in Noida, could not be contacted for comments.
Civil Aviation Director Nitesh Rawat said, "A total of seven people were on board, including the pilot. All are safe, and we are yet to obtain the pilot's statement. All injured persons are being treated at Dr Rajendra Prasad Hospital in Mayabunder. We are trying to transport the injured people to Sri Vijaya Puram."
