MUMBAI: It has been almost nine months since the June 28, 2022 Sikorsky helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea that killed four ONGC staff, and yet its probable cause remains unknown. This is against international aviation practice: Unlike accident investigation bodies of most countries which come out with preliminary reports within 30 days of aviation accidents, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) rarely releases them, and has not released one for the Sikorsky crash either. The helicopter was leased by Pawan Hans, and a boycott by ONGC staff has led to the PSU suffering a loss of Rs 2.5 crore per month, adding up to over Rs 22 crore till now.
“The absence of a report has caused immense damage to ONGC and Pawan Hans… Though the latter’s fleet of four Sikorsky 76D helicopters are the latest state-of-the-art choppers fitted with the most modern equipment, it is learnt ONGC employees have refused to fly on these, otherwise contracted for crew change flights,” said Capt Uday Gelli, western region president of Rotary Wing Society of India.
