Close call for UP Deputy CM as chopper makes precautionary landing

A routine political trip nearly turned into a frightening moment in the skies over Lucknow when a helicopter carrying Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff.

On Saturday morning, Maurya boarded the helicopter at the helipad near La Martiniere College in Lucknow, heading to Kaushambi district where he was scheduled to attend several public programmes. Minutes after the aircraft lifted off, the pilots noticed smoke spreading inside the cabin , indicating a possible technical malfunction.

Recognising the risk, the pilots quickly alerted authorities and decided to bring the helicopter down immediately as a precaution. The aircraft safely landed at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow , preventing what could have become a serious incident. Maurya, his aide, and the pilots on board were reported safe. Officials later said the deputy chief minister would continue his journey to Kaushambi in another helicopter.

The incident has drawn attention partly because it comes not long after a tragic aviation accident involving Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar , whose aircraft crashed earlier this year, resulting in multiple fatalities. That tragedy heightened concerns about the safety of chartered political flights.

Aviation experts say emergency landings are often ordered when pilots detect unusual conditions such as smoke in the cabin, engine irregularities, electrical faults, or sudden technical failures . In many cases, the decision is taken purely as a precaution to ensure passenger safety.

Authorities have now begun a technical inspection of the helicopter to determine what caused the smoke and the malfunction. For Maurya and his team, the quick response of the pilots turned a potentially dangerous situation into a narrow escape.