Eknath Shinde’s Helicopter Diverted Amid Storm, Makes Emergency Landing at Juhu

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s helicopter encountered severe turbulence near Kalyan due to bad weather before making a safe emergency landing at Mumbai’s Juhu airport.

May 8, 2026 | Thane/Mumbai: A major scare unfolded on Thursday afternoon after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s helicopter was caught in severe turbulent weather while flying towards the Kalyan-Murbad region for official events. The helicopter was later safely diverted and landed at Mumbai’s Juhu airport following swift action by the pilot.

According to officials, Shinde had departed from the helipad at Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai for scheduled programmes in the Kalyan-Murbad belt. Weather conditions were initially reported to be normal, and the journey began smoothly. However, as the helicopter approached the Kalyan area, it encountered strong stormy winds and rapidly shifting cloud formations.

Sources said the turbulence intensified significantly, causing the helicopter to shake mid-air and making navigation increasingly difficult. Realising the risks posed by the deteriorating weather conditions, the pilot immediately decided to abort the onward journey and redirected the aircraft towards Mumbai.

The helicopter eventually made an emergency landing at Juhu airport without any incident. Officials confirmed that a total of eight people, including Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, were onboard at the time of the incident. Following the landing, all passengers underwent routine medical examinations as a precautionary measure. Authorities later confirmed that no injuries were reported and everyone on board was safe.

The pilot’s timely judgment and calm handling of the situation drew appreciation from officials and passengers alike. The incident briefly triggered concern among political circles and Shinde supporters, especially as sudden weather disturbances have become increasingly common in parts of Maharashtra during seasonal transitions. Airport authorities and aviation officials are expected to review the weather conditions and flight movement details related to the incident. Meanwhile, officials reiterated that all standard aviation safety protocols were followed during the emergency diversion.

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