RAWALPINDI, Feb 16: A helicopter made an emergency landing in the fields of Tarnol on Sunday after it lost radio contact with Islamabad airport traffic control, police said.

According to the police, the Agha Khan Foundation helicopter was heading towards Gilgit when it had to return due to poor visibility and bad weather conditions.

The helicopter carrying four passengers and three crewmen landed in the fields about three kilometre from Tarnol police station after losing radio contact with the airport traffic control at around 12:15pm causing panic among the aviation authorities, they added.

The police said when the helicopter took off for Gilgit from Islamabad, there was no indication of poor visibility. However, Captain Kaleem Bukhari had to return due to bad weather conditions near Gilgit, they added.

While the helicopter was heading back, it lost radio contact with the airport traffic control. Soon after the helicopter went missing, the air traffic control sought the help of local police to locate it.

Inspector Akbar Hussain Lasi of Tarnol police station told Dawn that the helicopter landed due to bad weather.

“All the people on board were safe and everything was okay,” Mr Lasi said.

He said the helicopter took off after sometime. Meanwhile, a source at the airport said the helicopter took off at 2:30pm from Sarai Kharbuza, Tarnol, and landed at Islamabad airport.