Chopper crashes in Rajshahi

TV personality Faridur Reza Sagar, singer Ferdous Ara and five others survived a helicopter crash in Rajshahi's Godagari upazila yesterday.

The seven persons onboard received minor injuries when the helicopter crash-landed around 2:30pm, moments after it took off.

TV anchor Farzana Brownia, pilot Capt Shakil Ahmed and Channel i videographers Tufan Ali, Rafikul Islam and Sumon were also on the aircraft.

They were taken to Godagari Health Complex.

Faridur, also Impress Telefilm managing director, received injuries to his waist and others suffered minor cuts and bruises. The seven persons came back to Dhaka later.

The aircraft took off from Lalbagh Helipad field and landed roughly on a heap of bricks near an under-construction building from a height of around 60 feet, police and fire fighters said.

Rabiul Awal, a fire fighter, quoted the pilot as saying that an engine malfunction forced him to crash-land.

“The rotor blades touched the ground and the helicopter crashed with a heavy jerk,” he said.

Jahangir Alam, officer-in-charge of Godagari Police Station, who witnessed to the crash, said the pilot seemed to have lost control soon after taking off and came down quickly.

Local lawmaker Omor Faruk Chowdhury, who drove the people on the helicopter to Rajshahi airport, said Faridur was carried on a stretcher.

Faridur flew to Godagari from the capital at 1:00pm to distribute bicycles among girls at an event at Anwara Fahim Ziauddin Pilot Girls' High School.