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Two BAF helicopters rescue 11 sailors from bay


Bangladeshpost
Published : 14 Aug 2019 07:54 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 07:52 PM

Two Agusta Westland AW-139 helicopters of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) have joined and successfully conducted rescue mission in Bay of Bengal, pulling 11 sailors to safety from a half sunken ship on August 7. The two maritime search and rescue helicopters of BAF scrambled to the scene at 5 pm, within half an hour of getting the news of sinking of three clinker-laden ships of Abul Khayer Group in Kutubdia area in the Bay of Bengal, a BAF sources said on Wednesday.

Of the ships, two sank completely and the other one sank in part. In spite of rough weather and hostile environment, the BAF helicopters pulled 11 sailors to the safety and took them to BAF Base Zahurul Haque in Patenga, Chattogram.

Italian made Agusta Westland AW-139 is a special Maritime Search and Rescue helicopter fitted with modern integrated avionics and control system. After induction of this helicopter in BAF on December 6, 2015, search and rescue capability of the force has been extended towards deep sea up to Air Defence Identification Zone.