First seaplane service from Mumbai takes off for Lonavala

The Mumbai-Lonavla seaplane service, which launched on Monday from Juhu aerodrome, was delayed by almost an hour and 30 minutes due to visibility issues and an enthusiastic media contingent, which crowded around the plane clicking photos. " The Air Traffic Control gave us a ten-minute clearance around 11am but since we couldn't clear the space, we missed that time slot," explained Mansi Shirodkar, who is handling the public relations for Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd (Mehair), which launched the service along with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation.

An Indian resident looks on as the first commercial seaplane in the state of Maharashtra prepares to take off from the Juhu Aerodrome in Mumbai on August 25, 2014. The service will connect Mumbai with Pawana Lake in the popular tourist destination of Lonavala.