Surat: A helicopter carrying senior members of the Nirma Group made an emergency landing in an open field near Magob-Bhatha village in Navsari on Wednesday afternoon after developing a technical fault mid-flight.

The helicopter was travelling from Surat to Mumbai. Hiren Patel was among those on board, along with Dhruvil Patel, Dev Patel and others.

The situation turned critical when the helicopter reportedly suffered a mechanical glitch during the journey. Acting swiftly under emergency protocol, pilots Captain Karansinh Dahiya and Kuldeep Mehta identified an open field away from residential areas and busy roads and safely landed the aircraft.

Officials said the helicopter came down nearly 500 metres away from an ONGC valve installation, helping avert what could have become a major disaster. All five passengers and crew members escaped safely without injuries.

Villagers in the Magob-Bhatha area were alarmed after spotting the helicopter flying unusually low before it descended into the field. Soon after the landing, large crowds gathered at the spot, with many recording videos on their mobile phones.

Police teams, local administration officials and technical experts rushed to the site after receiving information about the emergency landing. Preliminary investigation points to a technical malfunction, though aviation experts are conducting a detailed probe to determine the exact cause.

Locals praised the pilots for their calmness and quick decision-making during the emergency. Witnesses said the pilot’s skillful handling of the helicopter prevented a serious accident and ensured the safety of everyone on board. DeshGujarat