A helicopter ferrying Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Saturday (April 11, 2026) missed the designated helipad in Pune district and landed about 1,300 metres away in a parking lot in nearby Khanwadi village. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the incident would be probed.

Mr. Bhujbal was travelling from Nashik district to Pune to attend the 200th birth anniversary of social reformer Jyotiba Phule. “The pilot could not spot the helipad and landed at a location meant for parking. It was a smooth landing, and there was no issue,” Mr. Bhujpal, a senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, said.

When asked about the incident, Mr. Fadnavis, who was also in Pune, said, “I don’t have complete details yet; however, a detailed inquiry will be carried out.”

According to officials from the Pune administration, a designated helipad had been prepared for VIP helicopter landings. However, the pilot mistakenly landed in an open space in the parking area, mistaking it for the designated site.

The incident comes two months after the then Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in Baramati in Pune district.

The incident sparked concerns over air safety, with NCP-Sharad Pawar MLA Rohit Pawar terming it “serious”. He said, “I have raised concerns about chopper operations and the caution they require. The choppers are poorly maintained and operated, yet such incidents are neglected. The government should take precautions to avoid any untoward incidents.”