A helicopter stranded on a college playground in Kendrapada, Odisha for over a month following a technical malfunction has finally begun its 800-kilometre road journey to Mumbai for repairs. The aircraft, which developed a fault after a reported lightning strike on June 9, had become an unusual fixture in the local landscape, prompting concerns over its prolonged presence and disruption to student activities.
The helicopter, used during an official visit, was grounded after sustaining significant technical damage, forcing the return journey to be made by road. Despite repeated attempts by aviation engineers to fix the fault on-site, the damage proved too complex to resolve in situ. After nearly five weeks and rising local pressure, the chopper was dismantled and loaded onto a trailer to begin its slow transit to Mumbai. Authorities involved in the operation confirmed that the helicopter’s blades were removed, and the body was carefully lifted using an earthmover. The ground transport is expected to take approximately ten days, escorted by safety vehicles to ensure secure passage. An aviation engineer coordinating the removal said the delay was partly due to logistical constraints and the requirement for specialised transport arrangements.
Local officials acknowledged that action to remove the helicopter was taken only after the incident attracted public attention and media coverage. According to an administrative officer in the district, the removal plan had been pending due to procedural delays and lack of direction from aviation authorities. For students and faculty at Kendrapada Autonomous College, the aircraft’s presence became more than just a technical inconvenience. The only playground available for student recreation and sports was cordoned off with police and fire service personnel stationed round-the-clock. Several faculty members noted that access had been restricted for over a month, affecting extracurricular activities and college morale.
Meanwhile, the grounded helicopter turned into an unexpected curiosity, drawing locals and visitors alike. The once-mission-critical aircraft evolved into a selfie attraction, with students frequently gathering around it to capture pictures. “People had started treating it like a tourist spot,” remarked a college official, who noted the relief expressed by students once the removal process began. The episode echoes similar instances of stranded aircraft in India, including a British Navy jet stuck at Thiruvananthapuram airport since mid-June. Both cases highlight the pressing need for more agile maintenance frameworks and contingency planning in civil and state aviation, especially as cities and towns seek to maintain balance between operational readiness and public space access.
While the chopper is finally on the move, the prolonged delay underscores systemic gaps in handling grounded aircraft, especially in non-urban settings where infrastructure and rapid-response capability may be limited.
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