Pune: Helicopter, going to pick up NCP leader, crashes 3 minutes after takeoff, 3 killed (VIDEO)

Pune: Three people, including two pilots and an engineer, died on the spot when a helicopter caught fire and crashed in the Bavdhan area of Pune on Wednesday, police said.

Police said the helicopter, belonging to Heritage Aviation, crashed when it took off from the helipad of Oxford County Resort in the morning.

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Breaking News Two people feared dead in a helicopter crash near Bavdhan in Pune district. More detail awaited: Pimpri Chinchwad Police official#Pune #PimpriChinchwad #Helicoptor #Helicoptorcrash #police #Bavdhan pic.twitter.com/Jk8F87tbGh

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The police have identified the deceased as two pilots — Parmjit Singh and G K Pillai - and engineer Pritam Bharadwaj.

The helicopter crashed just three minutes after takeoff while it was passing through a hilly area amid heavy fog, police said.

It was heading towards Mumbai to pick-up a Nationalist Congress Party leader Sunil Tatkare and fly him to Sutarwadi in Raigad district, police said.