Sri Vijaya Puram | February 24, 2026
Tarun Karthick
The helicopter that ditched in the sea near Mayabunder on Tuesday has been identified as a Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS365N3 Dauphin 2, bearing Registration Number VT-PHY and operating under call sign PH2.
According to available information, the aircraft was operating the scheduled inter-island sector Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) – Rangat – Mayabunder at the time of the incident. It was reportedly en route from Rangat to Mayabunder when the pilots carried out a controlled ditching (emergency landing on water). The circumstances that led to the decision to ditch the helicopter are yet to be officially confirmed.
There were seven persons onboard, including two pilots and one infant. All occupants are reported to be safe and are undergoing necessary medical examination and treatment. No fatalities have been reported.
Sources indicated that the Pilot-in-Command was Captain Anil Janu and the Co-Pilot was TPS Gulia. However, no official statement confirming crew details has been issued by the Civil Aviation authorities or the Andaman and Nicobar Administration at the time of filing this report.
The helicopter has been operating in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for approximately a year after being deployed by ‘Pawan Hans Limited’ to provide inter-island connectivity services on behalf of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. Pawan Hans plays a crucial role in maintaining air connectivity across the archipelago, particularly for remote and sea-locked islands where surface transport options are limited.
The AS365N3 Dauphin 2 is a twin-engine, medium-weight, multi-role helicopter widely used for offshore transport, search and rescue (SAR), emergency medical services (EMS), VIP transport, and inter-island connectivity operations. Known for its reliability and performance in maritime environments, the Dauphin N3 variant is equipped with advanced avionics, powerful Turbomeca Arriel engines, and enhanced safety systems. Its twin-engine configuration offers redundancy and improved safety during over-water operations—an essential feature for island territories like Andaman and Nicobar.
The helicopter type has been extensively deployed worldwide for offshore oil and gas operations, including crew transfers to ONGC platforms, as well as by civil and government agencies for utility and transport roles.
Records indicate that the same helicopter, VT-PHY, was earlier involved in a precautionary landing on May 3, 2018, near Ravulapalem, approximately 21 nautical miles from Rajahmundry, while returning to Rajahmundry Airfield (VORY) from an ONGC offshore crew change sortie. During that incident, the crew reportedly encountered adverse weather conditions and executed a precautionary landing as a safety measure.
As of now, authorities have not released an official statement detailing the cause of the Mayabunder ditching. An investigation is expected to ascertain the circumstances that led to the emergency water landing.
Further updates are awaited.
