Navy chopper crashes into Bay, 2 missing

Two injured rushed to hospital A board of Inquiry has been ordered to establish the causes leading to the accident Visakhapatnam: A Chetak helicopter of the Indian Navy crashed into Bay of Bengal about six miles off Dolphin Nose minutes after it took off from the Navy Air Station INS Dega here on Tuesday afternoon. Two of the four member crew were rescued by another helicopter while a vigorous search has been launched by naval ships and helicopters, Coast Guard, Visakhapatnam Port Trust and local fishermen for the other two. The two rescued personnel were shifted to Naval hospital INHS Kalyani. A part of the wreckage was also found around the same area where the two crew members were picked up. A release issued by the Eastern Naval Command said Chetak 440 took off from INS Dega at about 2 p.m. on a routine mission in an area about 10 nautical miles (18 km) seaward of Visakhapatnam, with four crew members onboard. Search and rescue was initiated when the Air Traffic Control lost contact with the helicopter at about 3:30 p.m. and the Chetak failed to return to base at the estimated time. Two survivors have since been picked up from the area and brought to the Naval hospital, INHS Kalyani. The Navy has mounted an extensive search in and around the exercise area with ships, helicopters and divers to locate remaining the two crew members and the wreckage. A Board of Inquiry has been ordered to establish the causes leading to the accident, the release added. This is the second incident involving the Chetak Helicopter in the district.