Four die after ONGC helicopter emergency landing in Arabian Sea

(WO) — A helicopter carrying nine people near India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s Sagar Kiran offshore rig landed in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday morning, killing four.

The helicopter made an emergency landing around 11:45 a.m. (AST Arabia) about one mile from the rig, and all nine people were rescued from the scene, ONGC said, adding that four people were unconscious and brought to the hospital where they died.

“ONGC deeply mourns this tragic loss of lives,” the company said. “ONGC is reaching out to the affected families and extending all possible support.”

The four deceased have been identified as ONGC officials Mukesh Patel, Vijay Mandloi, Satyamba Patra and a contract worker named Sanju Francis, The Times of India reported.

ONGC immediately activated its Regional Contingency Plan upon the emergency landing. ONGC vessels near the landing site were mobilized. One person was rescued by a lifeboat launched from the rig, and another four were rescued by ONGC stand-by vessel Malviya-16.

The four who later died were rescued by a Navy chopper, the company said.

There were inclement weather conditions present, but the company has not said whether that was a contributing factor to the helicopter’s emergency landing.
“An enquiry has been instituted,” ONGC said.