A Pawan Hans helicopter carrying seven persons, including an infant and two pilots, made a forced landing in the sea off the coast of Mayabunder on the morning of February 24, triggering a swift and coordinated rescue operation involving multiple agencies and local responders.
According to official information, the helicopter had departed from Sri Vijaya Puram at around 8.30 am for Rangat, landed there at 9.08 am, and took off again for Mayabunder at approximately 9.11 am. The expected flying time for the final leg was about 15 minutes. When the aircraft failed to arrive at the Mayabunder helipad as scheduled, helipad staff waited briefly before reports emerged that the helicopter had landed in the sea near Tota Tikrey, a coastal location locally known by residents.
The first alert reportedly came from the Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Rampur, following which the district administration moved quickly to mobilise emergency response mechanisms. Boats of the Indian Coast Guard and the Police Marine Force were alerted, while personnel already patrolling in nearby waters altered course towards the incident site.
A Forest Department dinghy operating in the area, carrying personnel from the Forest Department and the Indian Reserve Battalion, was among the first to reach the spot. Despite challenging sea conditions, the team immediately began evacuating passengers from the water. One elderly woman was found unconscious after ingesting seawater and was administered first aid at the site before being shifted ashore. Other occupants, including the infant, were also safely brought out of the sea.
Simultaneously, additional rescue boats from the Police Marine Force reached the location and focused on securing the pilots and ensuring that no one remained trapped inside the partially submerged helicopter. Personnel also conducted underwater checks as a precautionary measure to rule out the possibility of anyone being stuck inside the aircraft.
The Deputy Commissioner of North and Middle Andaman reached the area soon after and supervised the evacuation and medical response. A joint operation involving the district administration, Forest Department, Police Marine Force, Coast Guard and local residents ensured that all seven persons onboard were brought to safety without loss of life.
All rescued passengers and pilots were taken to the District Hospital at Mayabunder, where medical examinations and treatment were carried out. Hospital sources indicated that the injured were placed under observation as a precautionary measure.
Officials described the response as an example of effective inter-departmental coordination in a remote island setting, where response time is critical and resources are often stretched. The presence of patrol units in the area and the quick flow of information from local representatives were seen as key factors in preventing the situation from escalating into a tragedy.
The district administration later acknowledged the role played by Forest Department staff, police personnel and local responders whose immediate action helped avert casualties. The incident has once again highlighted the importance of preparedness and coordination among civil administration, uniformed forces and frontline field staff in handling aviation-related emergencies in the island territory.
