M A I N   N E W S

Sunil Dutt survives air crash

Mumbai, March 27 Film star and Congress leader Sunil Dutt had a miraculous escape when a six-seater twin-engine chartered Piper Pa-23 aircraft, in which he was flying with five others, crashlanded in Nasik district in north Maharashtra late last night. Mr Dutt, a Member of Parliament from Mumbai North-West constituency, who had been admitted to the Lifeline Hospital at Nasik following the crash, was shifted by a special helicopter to the Breach Candy Hospital here this afternoon. Breach Candy’s Director, Marketing, Cyrus Engineer, said that Mr Dutt was admitted to the hospital around 12.30 p.m. and necessary tests and medical examinations were being carried out. The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instituted an inquiry into the air crash, DGCA sources said here.

Cine star-turned-politician Sunil Dutt, who miraculously survived when a plane crashlanded in a field at Bhaduri village in Nasik district, is being taken to Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai, on Tuesday.  — PTI photo

Sources said a team comprising Director (Air Safety, Western Region) Subhash Chander, Director (air worthiness) M. Sahay and an engineer, a pilot and an assistant of the Ahmedabad Aviation Academy had reached Chandvada-Bhaduri village under the jurisdiction of Vadinar-Bhairav police station, some 60 km from Nasik city to inquire into the crash.

Local civil aviation officials had reached the site of crash last night.

The six-seater Pa-23 aircraft, which was chartered, belonged to the Ahmedabad Aviation Academy.

The aircraft, which was scheduled to land at Mumbai Airport at 11 p.m., crashed shortly after take off from Nasik last night at around 10.30 p.m.

Capt Sahil Handa (32), who was greviously injured in the crash, radioed the Mumbai Air Traffic Control that both engines of the aircraft had failed. UNI, PTI