"Tragedy Strikes: Helicopter Crash Claims Lives of Three Crew Members Amid Maharashtra Election Preparations"

A tragic helicopter crash in Pune has claimed the lives of three crew members, sparking shock and sorrow among political circles, particularly the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The helicopter, which was chartered by the NCP for Maharashtra Assembly election purposes, had been scheduled to fly Maharashtra NCP president and Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare to his native village, Sutarwadi, in Raigad district on Wednesday morning.

Tatkare revealed that the helicopter had been booked by the party for travel purposes throughout the duration of the state elections. He mentioned that just a day before the crash, he and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had traveled to Mumbai from Beed to meet Union Minister Amit Shah to discuss the ongoing seat-sharing negotiations for the Mahayuti alliance. The ill-fated helicopter had been stationed overnight in Pune, ready to fly Tatkare to his engagements the following day.

Tatkare had several events planned in his hometown, and following these, he intended to return to Mumbai. “I was supposed to fly to Sutarwadi in this helicopter after it reached Mumbai. The news of the crash and the tragic loss of life is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences go out to the families of the crew members who lost their lives," he said, adding that the loss of three lives weighed heavily on his mind and overshadowed any concerns about his own safety. In the wake of the crash, Tatkare opted to travel to his destination by road.

Party insiders disclosed that the helicopter had been on assignment for Tatkare's use for over a month and had been hired from Heritage Aviation, a private aviation company. A senior NCP leader clarified that the party was not looking to assign blame, acknowledging that the company had also suffered a significant loss in losing three of its staff. "We stand in solidarity with the families and the aviation company. This is not the time for a blame game," the leader added.

The crash occurred in the Bavdhan area of Pune while the helicopter was en route from the Oxford Golf Course resort to Juhu in Mumbai. Vinoy Kumar Choubey, the Police Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad, confirmed that the helicopter had been on its way to pick up Tatkare in Mumbai when the incident occurred.

This tragic accident has cast a somber shadow over the ongoing political campaigns, with leaders expressing grief over the untimely deaths of the crew members. As investigations into the cause of the crash continue, the loss serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in air travel and the unpredictability of life, even amidst the hustle of election preparations.