President has narrow escape as helicopter blades hit shed

The helicopter,however,landed safely,he said.

The asbestos roof of the shed was ripped off after being struck by three blades,a senior police official said.

The President,who was returning to Bhubaneswar after inaugurating the Urban Haat in Puri,drove straight to Raj Bhavan after landing,the police official said.

Jain said though an inquiry has been started into the incident,Indian Air Force would conduct a separate probe.

IAF orders inquiry into incident involving Prez’s copter

The Indian Air Force has instituted a Court of Inquiry into an incident when the rotor blades of a helicopter carrying President Pratibha Patil hit a shed at the Bhubaneshwar airport.

“A Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the incident,” IAF spokesperson Wing Commander T K Singha said here.