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Kochi:

A Coast Guard helicopter crashed on Sunday just after taking off from the enclave at Kochi International Airport Limited (CIAL) in Kerala.

However, due to the understanding of the pilot, the lives of the three people aboard were saved.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICJ) informed that ALH Mk-III helicopter CG 855, operated from Kochi, took off from CIAL Enclave at 12.25 pm for a 'post repair fitness check'.

According to the statement, when the helicopter reached a height of 30-40 feet after takeoff, the pilot lost control over it.

However, the pilot, showing a high degree of presence of mind, succeeded in regaining minimal control and steered the helicopter away from the main runway of the airport.

The ICG said, "Prior to the flight test, the team of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and ICG had carried out a thorough ground check of the helicopter and found all the parameters satisfactory. His cyclic control (a device used to control the forward flight of the helicopter at altitude) was not working."

Sources said that the pilot tried to 'land the helicopter as safely as possible' so that the lives of the three people on board could be saved.

He said that one person was slightly injured in the incident.

The rotor and airframe of the helicopter have been damaged and an inquiry has been ordered into the cause of the accident.

Meanwhile, CIAL informed that the flight operations were suspended for two hours after the Coast Guard helicopter crashed.

"The helicopter was removed from the operational area around 2 pm and after a safety inspection, the runway has been largely cleared and flight operations have resumed," CIAL said in a statement.