CM Mohan Yadav flying in uninsured helicopter:French company’s chopper insurance expired on October 18, prompting authorities to invite fresh tenders again

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has been flying in a state-owned helicopter whose insurance expired nearly a month ago. Despite the lapse, the CM continues to travel across Madhya Pradesh in the uninsured aircraft, along with ministers and senior officials. The Aviation Department had invited proposals from insurance firms for a cover of Rs 70 crore for the helicopter purchased from a French company. However, not a single insurer submitted a bid. Additional Chief Secretary (Aviation) Sanjay Kumar Shukla said he was unaware of the insurance expiry and that Aviation Commissioner Chandramouli Shukla could provide clearer details. Flights continue despite expired coverage According to officials, the insurance for the helicopter expired on 18 October, yet routine VVIP flights have continued. The CM and his team have used the uninsured helicopter for multiple district visits and official engagements. On 14 November, the Aviation Department issued a fresh tender for the insurance, inviting bids until 27 November. About the state helicopter The state purchased the EC 155 B1 helicopter from Airbus Helicopters, France, in 2011.
Key specifications: Insurance conditions set for companies For the new tender, the state government has listed strict conditions for insurers: The existing (lapsed) insurance had categories such as hull all-risk, hull war risk, third-party liability, and passenger/crew liability as per DGCA norms. State aircraft was damaged without insurance in 2021 This is not the first time the state has operated an uninsured aircraft. On 6 May 2021, during the COVID-19 crisis, a state plane was severely damaged while returning from Gujarat with Remdesivir injections. The aircraft collided with an arrester barrier roughly 300 feet before the runway in Gwalior. Its cockpit and propeller blades were damaged. This was a twin-engine King Air B-250 turboprop, capable of carrying 9 passengers and 2 pilots. By May 2021, it had logged 210 hours 2 minutes of flying time — all while uninsured. Congress had earlier questioned government aircraft purchases The Mohan Yadav government had already approved the purchase of a Challenger 3500 jet aircraft last year. After the 2021 plane accident, former Congress media adviser KK Mishra questioned why the aircraft was flying without insurance and raised concerns about the government’s aircraft procurement decisions.