Odisha CM’s Defunct Helicopter Begins Road Journey to Mumbai for Repairs

After being grounded for over a month, the defunct helicopter of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has finally begun its journey—by road—to Mumbai for repairs.

The chopper had remained stranded on the playground of Kendrapara Autonomous College since June 9, when it developed technical snags shortly after CM Majhi arrived in the district. According to officials, the helicopter suffered damages caused by a lightning strike, rendering it inoperable.

Despite multiple attempts, engineers were unable to fix the malfunctioning aircraft on site. “All efforts to repair the helicopter locally proved unsuccessful,” said Additional District Magistrate Rabindra Kumar Mallick. “It has now been dismantled and loaded onto a special trailer to be transported to Mumbai.”

The unusual sight of a helicopter on a flatbed truck attracted curious onlookers as it made its way out of Kendrapara under tight security. The road journey to Mumbai—spanning nearly 1,700 kilometers—is expected to take several days.

Officials have not specified how long the repairs might take or when the helicopter will return to service.

This incident has drawn attention to the logistical challenges of maintaining VIP aircraft, especially in remote locations where advanced repair facilities are unavailable.