Lulu Group chairman Yousuf Ali’s helicopter makes emergency landing in Kerala

Nourin Alem

A private helicopter carrying UAE-based businessman Yusuf Ali M. A., his wife and three others crash-landed in a vacant plot in Kochi on Sunday morning. No injuries have been reported  All passengers including Yusuf Ali, his wife and three staff members of his Lulu Group and two crew members on board the chopper owned by Lulu Group have been admitted to a private hospital.

The incident occurred at around 8,45 a.m. amidst mild rainfall. The helicopter landed on the marshy plot of land, off the NH Bypass at Panangad, reportedly following technical snag. The pilot and others walked through hip-deep water, helped by people of the locality, and were taken to the hospital.

Mr. Ali, who is the chairman of LuLu Group, and others had boarded the helicopter that bore the logo of his group from his house in Kochu Kadavanthra to call on a relative who was admitted in a nearby hospital. It was slated to land on the ground of Fisheries College, Panangad but landed on the marshy plot around 200 m away. Sources in Panangad Police Station, located at a stone’s throw away from the spot, said it was a safe landing, although the busy NH Bypass, power lines and a transit mixer were located nearby. The pilot managed to land the helicopter within the compound wall of the plot.

“All of them are safe. They are currently under observation,” a top official of the Lakeshore hospital where they are treated told P T I. The incident occurred at Panangad area at around 8.30 am on Sunday.

According to reports, Yousuf Ali had complained of back pain while leaving the helicopter which did not sustain visible damages. However, television visuals showed water inside the helicopter. Police and firefighters were seen inspecting the site after the forced landing. Reports said an investigation is likely about the technical issues that led to the emergency landing.