Helicopter crashes in Cox's Bazar, 1 killed, several injured

A helicopter of private Meghna Aviation has crashed in Cox's Bazar's Ukhia Upazila, killing one and injuring four.

Ukhia police OC Md Abul Khayer told bdnews24.com the aircraft crashed around 9:30am on Friday.

While carrying five people to Dhaka, the Robinson R66 helicopter crashed at the Rejukhal sea beach in Jaliapalang Union's Sonarparha area, some 45 km away from Cox’s Bazar.

Khayer said cricketer Shakib Al Hasan had flown to Cox’s Bazar in the morning by the helicopter, owned by Meghna Aviation, an enterprise of Meghna Group of Industries.

He went there to take part in the shooting of a television commercial, a project of the advertising agency Ogilvy Bangladesh.

Hundreds of people gathered at the sight of the crash. Local fishermen were engaged in rescue work.

Police and BGB personnel cordoned off the spot.

The deceased, Shah Alam, 32, was an accounts executive of Ogilvy Bangladesh.

He was pronounced dead after being taken to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, said Rafiqul Hasan, on-duty doctor at the emergency department.

After dropping off Shakib at Royal Tulip Sea Pearl Beach Resort at Inani Beach, pilot Shafiqul Islam was taking another Ogilvy employee Shariful Islam and his two sons to Dhaka when the helicopter crashed, said Ukhia police SI Md Omar Faruk.

Shafiqul, seriously injured, was rushed to Dhaka.

The helicopter crashed after circling a few times over Inani Beach, a local resident told bdnews24.com.

Cox’s Bazar Airport Manager Sadhon Kumar Mohanto said the pilot neither informed the airport authorities nor asked for permission for landing.

“We don’t know the details of the accident,” he added.

A Meghna Aviation official, requesting anonymity, claimed the company had informed the airport authorities through fax.

Passenger ‘opened door’

The door of the helicopter was opened when it was flying, allowing air into the helicopter which caused the crash, Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) suspects.

A CAAB team visited the crash site in the afternoon.

Group Captain Md Zafar, who headed the inspection team, spoke to reporters about the suspicion.    

Meghna Group’s Chief Marketing Officer Md Khorshed Alam, quoting the pilot, said the deceased passenger, Shah Alam, opened the door without informing the pilot to take photos and record some clips with his mobile phone.

Pilot Shafiqul also said he pulled the door to close it and lost control of the helicopter, leading to the crash, Khorshed said.