Dr. Dinesh
On the morning of 24th February 2026, between 9:45 and 9:50 a.m., a routine day near the waters off Mayabunder turned into a moment of sudden crisis.
We were on normal duty, proceeding towards Interview Island, when we noticed a helicopter approaching the Mayabunder helipad from Sri Vijaya Puram. From a distance, something seemed unusual. The aircraft appeared to be gradually losing altitude. Before it could complete its approach, it descended into the sea, landing in shallow waters.
Our dinghy was about 300 metres away from the site. The weather was fair, with mild cloud cover and a slight haze that may have obscured clear visibility for those farther away. But from our vantage point, the emergency was unmistakable. Without hesitation, we turned towards the helicopter. It was low tide, with high tide approaching, a factor that heightened the urgency. We reached the site within minutes.
Several passengers had already managed to exit the aircraft. A lady was seated at the doorway holding an infant, others appeared shaken but were striving to remain composed. Immediate assistance was extended to facilitate safe evacuation. One heavily built lady passenger required additional effort to be brought out. Despite the difficulty, and despite an unspoken fear among the rescuers that the helicopter might explode, the forest personnel moved close to the aircraft and ensured that every passenger was brought to safety.
The pilot and co-pilot remained remarkably calm throughout. They instructed that passengers be evacuated first and ensured that everyone had exited before they themselves stepped out. Their composure prevented panic and played a decisive role in safeguarding lives. It would not be an exaggeration to say that their presence of mind saved the day.
Attempts were made to dial 100, but the call did not go through, possibly due to network issues. At that critical moment, Saw Manashay, DRM Forest Mazdoor, acted swiftly and contacted Saw Bibitoo, Home Guard, who was stationed at the jetty, requesting him to alert the rescue team. This timely coordination ensured that assistance was mobilised without delay.
As ambulance access was not immediately possible at the site, a Coast Guard vehicle stationed at the jetty was utilised to transport the passengers. All were moved quickly and efficiently.
The contribution of the DRM forest staffs, Saw Manashay, Saw S.C. Thomas, and Saw Sakari, members of the Karen community known for their resilience and familiarity with the sea, deserves special mention. Alongside them, Head Constable K. Karthick Kumar (Compounder), IRBN, who routinely accompanies forest staff to Interview Island, played a steady and supportive role in the rescue operation.
What stood out that morning was not chaos, but composure. Not noise, but coordinated action. The proximity of the dinghy ensured timely intervention; had it not been nearby, communication delays and rising anxiety might have complicated the situation. In times of crisis, systems are tested, but it is individuals who make the difference. Near the waters of Mayabunder that morning, calm courage prevailed. The pilot’s professionalism, the bravery of the forest DRM staffs, the swift presence of mind shown by Saw Manashay and Saw Bibitoo, and the steady assistance of K. Karthick Kumar together ensured that what could have been a tragedy became instead a testament to human resolve.
Later, when the immediate crisis had passed and we narrated the incident to friends, an almost inevitable question arose, “Why didn’t you take photographs?” The answer was simple. It never crossed our minds. In those moments, there was no thought of documentation, no instinct for spectacle. We were completely engrossed in evacuating the passengers.
In an age where events are often first recorded before they are responded to, that instinct perhaps speaks for itself. The priority was not proof, but people.
Such acts of quiet heroism deserve recognition, not merely in words, but in public memory.
Author’s Note: The reconstruction of events in this article draws upon first-hand accounts narrated to the author by eyewitnesses present at the scene on the day of the helicopter accident. Every effort has been made to present the sequence faithfully as described.