Andhra Pradesh govt. denies purchasing new helicopter for Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu

The Government of Andhra Pradesh on Friday refuted reports that a new helicopter had been purchased for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and other VIPs, and called such claims “fake propaganda” intended to mislead the public.

“There is no new purchase. Instead, a different helicopter has been leased due to recurring technical issues with the earlier one,” officials in the CMO said.

Until recently, a helicopter of the Bell company had been used for the Chief Minister’s tours. However, it frequently developed snags, including during Mr. Naidu’s official trips. A scheduled visit of Union Minister Piyush Goyal from Tirupati to Krishnapatnam Port had to be cancelled due to a malfunction in the helicopter, the officials recalled.

Security agencies had flagged these concerns after repeated delays and technical glitches, recommending a replacement, the officials added.

Consequently, the government leased an advanced Airbus H160 helicopter, the officials said, adding that the new chopper offered enhanced safety, reliability, and ability to cover long distances directly from Amaravati to districts such as Srikakulam or Chittoor, reducing the need for connecting flights.

The arrangement was also expected to save significant costs. Earlier, VIP tours often required a combination of flights and helicopters, raising both expenses and travel time. “With the Airbus H160, the Chief Minister can fly directly to destinations across the State, cutting travel expenditure by nearly 70%,” the officials said.

“False reports about the purchase of a new helicopter are an attempt to tarnish the government’s image,” the official observed, and cautioned that legal action might be taken against those spreading misinformation.