There was no distress call from the pilot of the helicopter, which went missing along with the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy, said the Airport Authority of India director, Mr R.K. Singla.
"The last contact (from the helicopter) was at 9.12 am to Shamshabad ATC. It (the helicopter) was located near Atmakur in Kurnool district (when it last contacted ATC). There was no communication later on," Mr Singla said.
"All efforts to establish contact failed. There was no trouble reported by the pilot as well as there was no SOS.There was enough fuel in the helicopter, which was also in good condition. ATC lost the signal abruptly," the AAI director said.
He, however, added, "We can't rule out any possibility including a crash or emergency landing."
Dr Singla said that an Indian Air Force helicopter which was pressed into service in the afternoon returned within 30 to 40 minutes due to bad weather."Another helicopter of the state government that took off from here landed at Atmakur in Kurnool."
Intelligence officials said that there was no information on the whereabouts of the Chief Minister.
State police officials are suspecting that the pilot might have ignored heavy rain and weather warning signals issued by meteorological department (Met).
As per the meteorological department officials, a heavy rain warning was issued for Rayalaseema and Telangana districts.
Mr Subba Rao, an official of Met, said, "The weather forecast issued a warning of heavy rainfall in Telangana, Rayalaseema and south coastal Andhra Pradesh due to upper air circulation."
The AP Aviation Corporation MD, Mr K.V. Brahmananda Reddy, said "We are making efforts to trace the missing helicopters. But so far there is no communication."
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