IAF Presents Detailed Report To Defence Minister On CDS Helicopter Crash

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has presented a detailed inquiry report to Rajnath Singh, defence minister regarding the Coonoor military chopper crash in the month of December last year that killed CDS General Bipin Rawat.

According to government sources, IAF provided a detailed probe presentation of more than 45 minutes to Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister of India about the CDS chopper crash report with the investigation.

While presenting their detailed report on the military plane crash, the inquiry team informed that the Mi-17v5 helicopter before the accident was following a railway line in between mountains and entered a thick cloud cover that suddenly came into the way.

The helicopter was flying at a low altitude and the crew members decided to fly out crossing the cloud cover rather thantaking off the plane and in that process, unfortunately it then hit a cliff.

Sources said the tri-services inquiry report has given its findings on the cause behind the crash last year and made suggestions for the future chopper operations meant for flying VIPs.

All the crew members of the helicopter were of the category of 'master green' and this category is provided to the best of pilots in the transport aircraft and helicopter fleets of the 3 forces. The master green pilots are known mainly for taking off the plane even in low visibility.

To present the probe report, IAF Chief Air Chief Marchal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, inquiry committee chief Air Marshal Manvendra Singh and Defence secretary Jay Kumar were there at the meeting. The inquiry committee headed by Air Marshal M Singh also recommended other important like the plane crew must be mixed of various category pilot so that they can fly accordingly with safety.

On 8 December, a helicopter crash took place in the Coonoor district of Tamil Nadu where 14 people lost their lives including Chief Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, his wife and 12 military personnel.

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