A naval helicopter with three personnel on board today landed under emergency conditions in grassland surrounded by bushes, about 40 km from here, after its engine developed a technical fault, officials said.
Officials said the pilot heard a peculiar loud noise and felt there was some problem with the engine.
The three naval personnel had a narrow escape as the pilot tactfully landed the chopper in the grassland between Panaikulam and Chittarkottai, sources said.
The landing caused a flutter at the nearby Vazhuthur Private Natural Gas Power Plant administrative building where some people were working.
Technicians have been sent to assess the problem in the helicopter and to bring it to INS Parundhu Naval base at Uchipuli near Mandapam, officials added.
