Wings clipped: Grounded helicopter takes road route to Mumbai
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Kendrapada: While the British Navy's F-35 fighter jet continues to sit stranded on the tarmac at Thiruvananthapuram airport a month after developing a technical snag, a helicopter that carried chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi during his visit to Kendrapada has finally begun its slow road journey to Mumbai — ending more than 30 days of being grounded on a college playground and becoming an unlikely selfie hotspot.
The helicopter was immobilised on June 9 after a lightning strike caused serious technical faults, forcing the CM to return by road. Despite a week of efforts by three aviation engineers, the problems proved too complex to fix on-site — mirroring the ongoing plight of the British F-35, which has remained grounded since June 14.
Its removal came after a TOI report on July 10 flagged the stranded aircraft. "The authorities initiated action to remove the helicopter after the news was published," confirmed additional district magistrate Rabindra Kumar Mallick.
Engineers dismantled the helicopter's blades before using an earthmover to lift it onto a trailer. "The road journey to Mumbai, covering about 800 km, will take around 10 days. Two escort vehicles will ensure safe transport," said a Mumbai-based aviation engineer involved in the operation, who did not wish to be named.
For Kendrapada Autonomous College students, the chopper's presence meant their only playground was barricaded and guarded round-the-clock by police and fire services.
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"Students and others were denied access for over a month. We're relieved it's finally being moved," said a college teacher, requesting anonymity.
Like the British Navy jet that has become an unusual sight for flyers at Thiruvananthapuram airport, the Kendrapada chopper turned into a local spectacle — with students flocking for selfies and group photos. "I took my final selfie with the helicopter as it was being loaded onto the trailer," said Rahul Rout, a college student.
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