Two pilots and an engineer lost their lives when a helicopter belonging to a private aviation company crashed and caught fire in Maharashtra's Pune district on Wednesday morning, police reported.

Sunil Tatkare, a Lok Sabha member and state president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), told PTI that he was originally scheduled to travel from Mumbai to Raigad in the same helicopter, which had been hired by his party.

The helicopter, operated by Delhi-based Heritage Aviation, took off from the helipad at the Oxford County Golf Course in Pune and was en route to Juhu in Mumbai when it crashed at approximately 7:40 a.m., according to the police.

The crash occurred near a hilly area in the Bavdhan region, close to the golf course, police said.

"Three individuals have died in the crash. Our teams, along with fire department personnel, have reached the site," confirmed Pimpri Chinchwad Commissioner of Police Vinaykumar Choubey.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishal Gaikwad further stated that the helicopter, an Agusta 109 owned by Heritage Aviation, crashed in the Bavdhan hills, resulting in the deaths of two pilots and an engineer onboard.

Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the crash occurred at 7:40 a.m., and the helicopter caught fire following the impact.

Fire engines and water tankers were dispatched to the scene, according to fire officials.

"The victims have been identified as Girish Kumar, Pritam Singh Bhardwaj, and Paramjeet Singh," said Anil Dimle, fire officer of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

Pimpri Chinchwad's Joint Commissioner of Police, Shashikant Mahavarkar, noted that the helicopter took off at around 7:30 a.m. from the Oxford County Golf Course helipad. Initial reports suggest that foggy conditions may have contributed to the accident.

"A detailed investigation will determine the exact cause of the crash," Mahavarkar added.

NCP’s Raigad MP Tatkare expressed his sorrow over the incident. "I am deeply saddened by this tragedy. The helicopter was hired by the party, and just yesterday I used it to travel to Parli in Beed district. Today, I was supposed to fly from Mumbai to Raigad in the same helicopter," he said in a phone interview with PTI.