In what has been described as a “miracle landing,” all on board survived. Coast Guard vessels and local fishermen assisted in the rescue, pulling passengers and crew to safety. The Andaman incident has drawn attention to the operational risks of rotary‑wing services in islands and mountainous terrain.

NEW DELHI, Feb 25 (INS): India’s aviation sector has been jolted by a string of mishaps in less than a month—three in just 24 hours—underscoring safety concerns after a relatively calm period of nearly six months.

The incidents, ranging from two fatal crashes to emergency landing and a miraculous escape, have shaken public confidence and cast a somber mood over the industry’s start to the year.

After the Learjet crash in Baramati killing Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and all four other occupants, a harrowing episode occurred late Monday night when a Beechcraft air ambulance crashed in Jharkhand, killing all seven people on board.

The aircraft, transporting a patient from Ranchi to Delhi for specialised treatment, went down under circumstances still being investigated. Rescue teams confirmed there were no survivors, marking another deadly aviation accident in a month. Authorities have ordered a probe into the cause, while aviation experts point to the challenges of night operations and the need for stringent maintenance checks on chartered medical flights.

Barely hours later, on Tuesday morning, a SpiceJet Boeing 737 operating as flight SG121 from Delhi to Leh was forced to return shortly after takeoff due to an engine issue. The aircraft was carrying 150 passengers. Crew members detected the anomaly mid-air and decided to turn back as a precaution. The safe landing at Delhi was met with relief, though passengers described tense moments during the return.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an inquiry, and SpiceJet has assured full cooperation, emphasizing that safety protocols were followed.

At 9:30 am Tuesday, yet another scare unfolded in the Andaman Sea when a Pawan Hans helicopter carrying seven people ditched into the water. In what has been described as a “miracle landing,” all on board survived. Coast Guard vessels and local fishermen assisted in the rescue, pulling passengers and crew to safety.

These three mishaps in quick succession have revived memories of the January 28 tragedy in Baramati, where a Learjet crash claimed the life of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others. That accident had already cast a pall over the new year, raising questions about airworthiness and oversight in India’s aviation sector. With the latest cluster of incidents, the narrative of 2026 as a “bad start for aviation” has gained traction.

For nearly half a year prior, India’s skies had been relatively calm, with no major accidents reported. The sudden spate of mishaps has therefore rattled both regulators and travelers. Aviation analysts note that while India’s safety record has improved in recent years, the combination of aging fleets, operational pressures and infrastructure gaps continues to pose challenges. The DGCA is expected to review recent events comprehensively, possibly tightening inspection regimes and mandating additional safety drills.

Operational risks of rotary-wing services on islands, hilly terrains

The Andamans incident has drawn attention to the operational risks of rotary-wing services in island territories, where weather and sea conditions can change rapidly.

The picture has been same in other remote areas like the Himalayan hills. Last two years the incidence of chopper accidents in Uttarakhand has been alarming—mostly attributed to pliot fatigue or bad weather. Uttarakhand is home to some of the major pilgrim centres; and accessibility in the hilly terrain is most difficult too.

• Every helicopter is, by definition, a rotary-wing aircraft. Helicopters in India—especially those serving remote or island regions like the Andamans—face unique challenges compared to fixed-wing aircraft.
• Sudden squalls, crosswinds and sea spray can make low-altitude flying hazardous. Helicopters often operate closer to the surface, so they’re more exposed to abrupt changes.
• Rotary-wing craft have more moving parts (rotor systems, gearboxes) that require meticulous upkeep. Any lapse can quickly escalate into an emergency.
• In places like the Andamans, landing strips are limited. Helicopters often fly over water or rugged terrain, where emergency landings are difficult.
• Many helicopter flights are short-haul, point-to-point or specialized (medical evacuation, offshore transport). These missions often push the aircraft into demanding conditions.

That’s why the Pawan Hans ditching in the Andaman Sea stood out—it was a textbook case of how risky such operations can be, yet it ended in a “miracle landing” with all seven on board rescued.

Helicopters face a different risk profile than fixed-wing aircraft, because of their mechanical complexity, low-altitude flight patterns and the environments they often serve.

The alternatives that are often considered are small commuter fixed-wing aircraft. They can operate between islands with short runways. They are safer in some respects, but require proper airstrips, which are limited in the Andamans.

Amphibious aircraft/seaplanes can land on water, making them versatile for archipelagos. They are already in use in some island regions globally like Maldives and Alaska (US).

While helicopters remain indispensable for speed and flexibility, seaplanes and fast ferries are the most practical alternatives in the Indian island context.

The incident has triggered a debate on social media whether the officer refused to take orders from a party leader or he was accused of any corruption, some netizens justifying the handling in either case, that Ratnakar was blocking public welfare work! It is true the Govt machinery has been the enemy Number One of the people of this country, existing for itself and for these politicians, for well over seven decades. India will never make an inch of progress - real progress, not make-believe-progress - unless and until this machinery is eliminated.

The irony lies in her illustration of her experiences in the country she has been living in for the last four years. What it really is!

ANALYSIS: There have been cases of Britons going to Switzerland to get rid of a miserable life. Now once the House of Lords also passes the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, terminally ill Britons can call it quits with the help of a medical practitioner here itself. But the measure when comes into practice, will have very serious social consequences, it is feared. There won't be comparisons, even as tropes in Latin American folklores. The worst case scenario is of those who are not terminally ill also trying to misuse the provision to leave this world early when life with dignity is not available. But that is, in fact, a political question and not a moral imbroglio!

The CCTV footage and the video circulating on social media do not indicate any serious abnormalities in takeoff or descent, it has been confirmed. The disaster is becoming curiouser and curiouser. The flight path was not curvy. And the aircraft maintained a steady, gliding descent with its nose straight and the wings perfectly level. The pilot's distress call does not specify what prevented lift and climb-out. Here are some expert opinions. The sole purpose is to raise travellers' awareness about air travel.

Many of the victims were charred beyond recognition, making identification difficult. Three hundred nineteen body parts have been sent for DNA matching with relatives to determine the identities.

• The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla line provides Kashmir with all-weather connectivity and integrates the Valley with the rest of India.
• The saying 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari' is now a dream come true.
• The Chenab bridge on the line, an engineering marvel, is the world's highest railway bridge, taller than the Eiffel Tower. (Video: File)

A comment on social media on Kanimozhi's answer on the question of national language read: "Daughter of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. Delivered the Birthday Present to her Father!!" (Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924) (Today's headlines )

Trump said, "Elon is not really leaving" and will be "back and forth" to the White House because DOGE is his "baby." "I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”

Musk wrote: "My scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end... The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Now on it will be on auto-pilot.

PROGNOSIS: DOGE was prematurely born to protect the country by aborting an impending socio-economic disaster which very few people could see coming.

Although its immediate job was to save American taxpayers billions by slashing waste, eliminating fraud, cutting Government bloat and ensuring utmost efficiency in administration for the good of the people. (Today's headlines )

"Coming from a system like in England, empowering," she says she never had an idea of this sort of experience... being asked to “socialise with middle-aged men” who financed the event...humiliating...

Originally from Junagadh, Gujarat, Pataudi was relocated to Etawah Lion Safari in September 2019 before being transferred to Gorakhpur Zoo in 2021. Recently it was receiving treatment for pancreatic and liver infections. After tigress Shakti died in the zoo on May 7 due to bird flu, Pataudi was shifted to Kanpur. Some birds are also reported to have died mysteriously around Gorakhpur. All zoos in UP are closed for fear of a bird flu outbreak.

Three other animals too had died - a tiger, a leopardess and a female wolf. Wolf Bhairavi died last Saturday, leopardess Mona died the Thursday before that and tiger Kesari died on March 30. Some of them had Shakti's symptoms but the cause of death has not been confirmed yet.

As tourist inflow is an indicator of normalcy returning to an erstwhile terrorist infested Valley, the Government has been trying hard to make everything travel-friendly, launching lot many projects and bringing Kashmir on the national rail map that physically completes the process of Kashmir's integration with the rest of India. And that defeats the designs of Pakistan eyeing Kashmir and simply explains a recrudescence of terrorism in J&K.

The committee headed by justice Kurian Joseph will study Centre-State relations and make proposals to ensure foolproof separation of powers.

"It's a big victory not just for Tamil Nadu but for all Indian States. DMK will continue to struggle for and win State autonomy and Federal polity," Chief Minister MK Stalin said.

Of 2.08 km in length, it features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train services to the holy town of Rameswaram on Pamban island.

ANALYSIS: There is a lot of hue and cry around the world over Trump's tariffs. But tariff, simply put, is a tax. But unlike tax, it affects the exporting country too. Domestic prices will go up for some time. Nothing more will happen, good or bad!

What motivated Trump's newfound policy, apart from being a stunt to justify his existence in the White House, is a false realisation that increased tariff will make foreign goods prohibitive, thereby boosting local production, and create more jobs, and more prosperity will ring in! If that is true, India would have been shining by now: Producing own Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail and Scotch Whiskies! And what about coconut and palm oil by America! (Today's headlines )

PROGNOSIS: It looks a Real New Trump is emerging - courageous, balanced, powerful and disinterested. Determined to save his country from the cliff, he has done quite a few draconian things that will reduce the burden of debts of the Federal entity, like the golden handshake, stopping senseless funding, pulling out of a worthless WHO. Shutting the Education Department is another. On the other hand, running it is also not the Centre's job either (We will convincingly elaborate it in the next chapter).

In India the scene is just the opposite. Centralisation is the core agenda and identity of the ruling dispensation without which it has no existence, or in other words, it exists for that set of schemes only. A realisation of this never dawned upon any Opposition party in 2014 or any time thereafter, what to talk of being able to see it coming 70 years ago! The consequence of all this violation of basic natural law of the universe we cannot predict.

THE AMERICAN CONUNDRUM: Political venom has migrated to top echelons in the US. It was reported last year NASA has become politicised, vitiated. But NASA refuted the charge. How Boeing developed a glitch but its unmanned return was smooth. When Suni-Wilmore were stranded last June, why the return was set for February? Because that comes only after January 20! SpaceX called the shots, for itself and for Trump. Then the mission was manipulated for March for a better bargain! In between, what made Elon Musk 'predict' during campaign if Kamala Harris wins he would be in jail. In politics, it is said, "the only rule is there are no rules." Difficult times for Americans too.

The terminations are part of a large-scale exercise going on all across Fed departments and organisations to reduce wasteful Government expenditure as decided by a Trump in a mess gone berserk, and improve administrative efficiency following the whims of billionaire and his associate Elon MusK and his DOGE. It has not been shared how terminations are going to raise the efficiency bar! It looks like Trump has stolen some of the prescriptions meant for India. But the American problems are quite different.

Suddenly these colonial clerks feel this effortless, little rule will tremendously enhance security and convenience for the railway passengers manifold. More stations will be covered in the next 77 years! (Also See: New Delhi station stampede... What went wrong?)