Helicopter pilots held for breaching PM’s security

Singh had just completed an address at an election rally in Bilaspur.

The make-shift helipad already had three helicopters lined for the VVIP take off, sources said, adding that the Deccan Aviation crew virtually force-landed despite warnings from the ground staff.

An FIR under Section 336 of IPC and Section 11 of the Aircraft Act 1934 has been registered against the pilots at Sadar police station, police said. In the evening, DGP Ashwani Sharma told The Indian Express that the helicopter had been detained at Bilaspur and the pilots were arrested, but were released on bail.

The chopper came from Nalagarh after dropping former Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh. Later, Dhawan had to travel by road as the police did not allow the chopper to leave. When contacted, SP, Bilaspur, Balbir Thakur, who was also present at the spot when the helicopter made an unscheduled landing, confirmed that the police had no prior intimation about the chopper’s landing .

“The incident took place around 1.15 pm and is viewed as an intrusion into the PM’s security.The police have registered a case and investigations are in progress. We will ask the company, if it had obtained necessary clearence for the landing”, he said.

As per rules, there cannot be any landing or take offs by any aircraft, atleast 20 minutes before the Prime Minister’s schedule.