Flight cut short: Chopper makes emergency landing in remote village

The pilot took the decision after one of the helicopter’s five rotors failed.

HARIPUR:

A helicopter of the Agha Khan Foundation (AKF) made an emergency landing in a remote village of Haripur after developing a mechanical fault, officials said on Friday. There were 13 persons, including three crew members, on board.

The aircraft had developed a fault in one of its five rotors. The helicopter landed near Jati Pind village a few yards from Tarbela Lake, some 5km to the north of the city.

The AKF helicopter, an AW 139 Italian Model, took off from Gilgit at around 10am but when it reached the jurisdiction of Haripur District about an hour and half later, the first pilot Col (retd) Nadeem Ghaus felt unusual vibrations. He decided to land the chopper, said the police.

“The timely decision of emergency landing by the first pilot averted loss of life,” said a police officer who interviewed the crew members after the landing.

All passengers onboard were employees of AKF. The chopper was also transferring AKF Gilgit Chapter Education Director General Javed Akhtar, who was being flown to Islamabad after suffering a brain hemorrhage. The passengers were later driven to Islamabad on vans of the foundation.

The pilot of the helicopter told police that he had informed the aviation authorities about the situation. Since there are very few helicopters of the model, they have requested the government to loan a temporary rotor so that the chopper can be flown to Islamabad for repairs. The process could take another two days.

The Haripur Police will guard the helicopter till then.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2012.