A major accident was averted in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Tuesday morning. A Pawan Hans helicopter made an emergency landing in the sea near Mayabunder due to technical issues. There were 7 people on board, including two pilots and five passengers. Authorities confirmed that everyone was rescued safely immediately after the incident and taken to the hospital for a check-up.
How did the accident happen?
The incident took place around 9:30 AM on February 24, 2026. The helicopter was approaching the Mayabunder runway when it faced a technical snag. It landed in the sea about 300 meters before the runway. This is being called a ‘short landing incident’ by officials. The marine police acted quickly to save everyone from the water.
Who were on board and are they safe?
The helicopter carried pilots Captain Anil Janu and Captain TPS Gulia along with five passengers. The passengers include Rajita Devi, Shishu Kamal Chandra Das, Shipra Saha, and Nambi Amma. All of them were taken to Dr. RP Hospital in Mayabunder. Doctors are monitoring their health, and no serious injuries have been reported so far.
Ticket Prices and Future Plans
Pawan Hans operates these flights under the Andaman administration. Islanders pay around ₹3,375 for a ticket from Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) to Mayabunder. Tourists have to pay between ₹10,000 to ₹11,000. The administration plans to replace the old Dauphin N3 helicopters with modern Sikorsky choppers for better safety in the future.
