After landing, the wheels of the Indian Air Force helicopter sank into a freshly concrete landing platform; the problem was quickly resolved and no one was injured.
An unusual incident occurred during the Indian President’s official visit Draupadi Murmu in the state Kerala this week. The helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF)which transported the head of state, remained on a freshly prepared area after landing Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium briefly stuck in Pathanamthitta district.
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According to several reports, it was probably one Mil Mi-17 or a similar model of the Indian Air Force.
Like local media like NDTV and Times of India report, there was a part of the freshly concrete landing area under the weight of the helicopter, causing the wheels to partially sink into the still wet surface. Police and firefighters on scene responded quickly and manually extricated the helicopter with no damage or injuries reported.
The change in landing site is reportedly short term due to bad weather conditions in the Nilackal region, which necessitated the construction of a temporary new helipad. However, the concrete did not have enough time to harden before the president landed.
Despite the incident, President Murmu not in danger and continued her program as planned, including a visit to the Sabarimala-Paste. Local authorities said they would review security and infrastructure protocols for official travel.
A video of the incident, showing the helicopter’s wheels sinking and ground crew rushing to help, quickly spread on Indian social media, sparking discussions about a lack of planning and improvisation in high-level operations.
The wheels of the helicopter which carried President Droupadi Murmu for her Sabarimala visit got stuck in a depression in the newly concreted helipad at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at Pramadam here when it landed on Wednesday morning.
After the President left for Pamba by… pic.twitter.com/fDIvVeac3k
— The Siasat Daily (@TheSiasatDaily) 22 October 2025
Sources: NDTV, Times of India | Twitter @TheSiasatDaily. This content was created using artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.
