M. A. Yusuff Ali after the incident. Photo/Twitter

Gulf Today Report

A helicopter carrying M. A. Yusuff Ali, the chairman of UAE-headquartered multinational firm Lulu Group, made an emergency touchdown in Kochi, in the south Indian state of Kerala, on Sunday, based on Indian media reports.

There were five passengers in the helicopter, including Yusuff Ali and his wife. All passengers are safe, however they sustained minor injuries and have been taken to hospital, based on reports.

The helicopter made a compelled touchdown right on an abandoned land close to the Kerala College of Fisheries and Ocean Research near Panagad.

V Nandakumar, director of Advertising and Marketing and Communications at Lulu, said that Yusuff Ali, his spouse Shabira and private secretary Shahid P. Okay, together with the pilot and the co-pilot “are secure after the pilot determined to make an emergency touchdown as a result of bad weather.”

  A view of the helicopter in which Yusuff Ali was travelling.  

“It was not a crash-landing as some local media have reported. As a result of rain, the pilot gauged that the helicopter cannot proceed with flying and he opted for a touchdown on a marshland keeping in mind the safety of the passengers and the residents on the ground."

Nandakumar mentioned the couple was on a private journey ahead of Ramadan and had been admitted to Lakeshore Hospital.