India Legal Investigation: Greater Noida helipad without any security can facilitate Delhi’s potential 9/11 tragedy
By India Legal Bureau Helicopter flights in India have become almost commonplace, especially for relief purposes, for religious travel and for several other emergencies. There are also pleasure travel and short-hop flights operated by private companies. However, for each helicopter service centre – which would comprise a helipad and other allied facilities – there are security restrictions in place, especially in and around New Delhi, where the country’s VVIPs live. A large airspace around the Prime Minister’s residence, for example, is a No-Fly Zone (NFZ) for security reasons. There was a major fright in May 2019 when a regular Spice Jet commercial flight came too close to this NFZ by mistake and an inquiry was launched. Not just the PM’s house, but there are several other high security buildings in New Delhi over which flying would be against national interest. Amid this, think of a situation, where a pilot of a private helicopter operator takes off from a non-scheduled helipad – ...