GUWAHATI, Sept 23 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and the officials accompanying him today had a narrow escape when the pilots almost lost control of the helicopter on which they were travelling to Lakhimpur due to bad weather. But the pilots ultimately brought the situation under control by making an emergency landing at Lilabari airport.
The Chief Minister today visited Lakhimpur to attend several functions including formal presentation of the Madhabdev award. Sonowal was scheduled to leave for Lakhimpur from Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at 9 am, but the start of the journey was delayed because the chopper was not given permission by the concerned authorities to take off due to bad weather. Sonowal was accompanied by his Press Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami, PS Tuhin Hazarika and SP, Security Mantu Thakuria. The crew of the Pawan Hans included the pilot, co pilot and the navigator.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Hrishikesh Goswami described the ordeal that they had to face and said that for 15 minutes or so, the chopper went into a cloud and they could not see where they were heading for.
He said that after getting clearance, the chopper started off the journey from the airport at around 11.30 am and it encountered clouds after crossing Banderdewa in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The chopper went into a cloud and �we could not see anything for some time. We felt a few jerks as the pilots fought hard to keep the chopper under control. After about 15 minutes or so, the pilots managed to bring the chopper under control and landed safely at Lilabari airport. The pilots later told us that they had to increase the height of the chopper suddenly to come out of the clouds.�
Goswami said that immediately after landing at Lilabari airport, Sonowal shook hands with the pilots and thanked them for managing to land the chopper safely.
