Kochi: Naval aircraft force lands on paddy field

Kochi, Nov 10: Five naval personnel had a narrow escape after their Islander aircraft made a forced landing on a paddy field at Piravom in Kottayam district of Kerala after developing an engine failure.

A spokesman for the Southern Naval Command here said that the five crew on board, comprising two pilots and three under trainee officers, were safe and had minor or no injuries.

They had been brought to the naval base hospital 'INHS Sanjeevani' and were being medically examined.

He said that the Islander aircraft, on a training sortie, reported an engine failure around 0930 hrs. and was ordered to return to the naval base. However, as the aircraft could not sustain minimum safe height, the pilot decided to force land the aircraft in a safe location.

The aircraft landing was done at an uninhabited paddy field close to the Hindustan News Print factory at Piravom, about 25 km south west of the Naval Air Station here.

A detailed investigation is being ordered by the Navy to ascertain futher details, the spokesperson added.

The crew on board the aircraft were identified as Lt Commander T G S Bedi, who was the captain of the aircraft, Lt. Tapas and under trainee officers Lt Commander P C Manoj Kumar, Lt Commander R K Singh and Lt Commander Maneesh Kumar.

UNI