A Maharashtra government helicopter carrying Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to Satara from Mumbai was on Thursday afternoon diverted due to bad weather to Juhu in the metropolis, where it landed safely, a senior official of aviation regulator DGCA said.
The Airbus Helicopters-manufactured chopper was 10 minutes away from Dare village in Satara, where it was scheduled to land, when the twin-engine helicopter was turned back due to inclement weather in the western Maharashtra district, said sources.
The helicopter again took off for Satara, the home district of Eknath Shinde, at 3.30 pm when the weather conditions improved, said the official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
"EC145 type helicopter (now called H145) of the Govt of Maharashtra with CM onboard got airborne at 12.30 pm from the Raj Bhavan helipad (in south Mumbai) for the Dare helipad (near Satara city). Enroute the helicopter encountered bad weather and diverted back to the Juhu aerodrome (in Mumbai) and landed safely," the official said.
On taking off again at 3.30 pm, the chopper carrying Shinde landed at the Sainik School helipad in Satara at 4.45 pm and the chief minister subsequently left for his native village Dare by car, said the sources.
After dropping Shinde in Satara, the helicopter later flew to adjoining Pune for evening halt, they said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Brazil Unveils Anti-Poverty, Hunger Alliance At G20 But 1 Country Does Not Sign
Looting Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde Takes On Rahul Gandhi Over Dharavi Project From Auto Rickshaw Driver To Maharashtra Chief Minister: The Eknath Shinde Story On Abuse Of Power Charge, Eknath Shinde's "Have We Arrested Anyone" Counter Air India Flight From Paris Diverted To Jaipur, Fliers Sent To Delhi On Bus Emergency Landing, Fliers Stuck For 3 Days In Phuket; Air India Responds Explained: Why Delhi's AQI Was 494 Today But International Monitor Said 1,600 PM Modi Meets Brazilian President, Thanks Him For Hosting G20 Summit Manipur Minister Builds Bunker, Puts Barbed Wire Around Home Amid Unrest US Won't Change Nuclear Posture: White House After Russia's Move On Nukes Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.