Top business executives, crew escape copter crash

Mysore, Jan 18 (UNI) Kalyani Group Chairman Baba M Kalyani had a miraculous escape along with two directors of a group company and a couple of cabin crew when the helicopter, in which they were travelling crash-landed at Infosys Helipad on the outskirts of the city today.

Police said the Deccan Airways helicopter carrying five people from Bangalore crash-landed due to some fault in the landing gear.

Dropping from a height of 30 feet, the helicopter rolled over injuring Mr Kalyani and Automotive Axles directors Rakesh Sachchdev and Lori Dohan. However, the injuries were minor, police said.

Miraculously, the pilot and the technician escaped unhurt. The injured were shifted to a private hospital for treatment.

According to eye witnesses, smoke was emitting from the helicopter after the mishap. However, it did not catch fire, even as the injured persons were removed to safety. A BEML fire engine was rushed to the spot.

The Automotive Axles executives were here to attend the company's board meeting at the factory premises.

There were heated exchanges between the police and the executives of the Automotive Axles when the latter refused to allow police to conduct investigation. It was only after DCP Balakrishna arrived, the situation came under control.The helicopter was badly damaged and loss was yet to be estimated.

''Mr Kalyani is fine and will return to Pune this evening. Other passengers on board are also safe and under observation and treatment at Apollo Hospital here,'' a company release.

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