25 People Feared Killed in Chopper Crash in West India

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, August 12, 2003

25 People Feared Killed in Chopper Crash in West India

At least 25 workers and engineers from an oil company were feared killed in a helicopter crash off India's west city of Mumbai on Monday.

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At least 25 workers and engineers from an oil company were feared killed in a helicopter crash off India's west city of Mumbai on Monday.

The Mi-172 helicopter with 29 people on board crashed into the Arabian sea 35 kilometers from Bombay shortly after taking off from a jackup at around 1218 PM local time (0648 GMT), the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

Two people had survived the crash while two out of four crew members of the private-owned chopper, were confirmed dead, PTI added.

The chopper, with 29 people including engineers and officials of India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), plunged into the sea after hardly gaining any height after taking off from a jackup rig in a western offshore asset named Neelam, PTI quoted anONGC official as saying.

The helicopter, owned by private firm Mesco, was ferrying the ONGC staffers from a drilling rig, Sagar Kiran, to another one, Sagar Jyoti, when it crashed, the official told the press.

Helicopter from Indian navy had already reached the accident site while ONGC's own multi purpose vessels had also been mobilized for rescue mission, PTI reported.

In New Delhi, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik told the media that navy and coast guard were helping in the rescue operation and his ministry would ask the Civil Aviation Ministry for an inquiry intothe accident.

His deputy, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Sumitra Mahajan said that three people had been rescued and the condition of one of them was stated as critical.

PTI quoted ONGC director V. K, Sharma as saying that the weather was hampering the rescue efforts and the possibility of survivors looked grim.

The helicopter was reportedly chartered from Mesco Airlines as ONGC's regular helicopter service provided by another airlines, Pawan Hans, was not available.

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