2021 Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash
| File:2021 IAF Mi 17V5 crash.jpg IAF Mi-17 helicopter with registration ZP 5164, the helicopter involved in the accident | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 8 December 2021 |
| Summary | Bad weather, poor visibility (investigation pending); Crashed into hillside |
| Site | Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area, near Coonoor, Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Mil Mi-17 V5 |
| Operator | Indian Air Force |
| Registration | ZP 5164 |
| Flight origin | Sulur Air Force Station, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Destination | Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Coonoor, Tamilnadu, India |
| Passengers | 10 |
| Crew | 4[1] |
| Fatalities | 13 including CDS General Bipin Rawat and his wife |
| Survivors | 1 |
On 8 December 2021, a Mil Mi-17 V5 transport helicopter operated by the Indian Air Force crashed between Coimbatore and Wellington Cantonment in Tamil Nadu, after departing from Sulur Air Force Station. The helicopter was carrying the Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 13 others, including his wife and other staff.
Incident
At around 12:00 local time, an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter took off with 10 passengers and 4 crew members from Sulur Air Force Station, headed to the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington, Tamil Nadu. Wing Commander P. S. Chauhan was in command, with copilot Squadron Leader K. Singh and Junior Warrant Officers Das and Pradeep A as the other crew members.[2] General Rawat, his wife and his staff were travelling to the DSSC, where Rawat was to address the college's faculty and student officers.[3]
At around 12:20 local time, the aircraft crashed near Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area in Coonoor, Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, which was 10 km from its intended destination.[4][5] According to air traffic controllers, contact was lost at 12:22 local time.[6] Initial reports of the crash emerged around this time, with a search-and-rescue operation launched at 12:25. The IAF officially confirmed General Rawat's presence on the flight in a tweet sent at 13:53.[7]
Casualties
.jpg)
Following the crash, the IAF released statements confirming the death of 13 persons on board including CDS General Bipin Rawat and his wife.[8][9] As of 21:30 local time, 13 bodies were recovered from the crash site.[10] Group Captain Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC, was the sole survivor, and was taken to the military hospital in Wellington, Tamil Nadu for surgery.[11][12]
The ten passengers, who had boarded the flight around 11:48 local time, included Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, liaison officer Group Captain Varun Singh and the general's personal staff, comprising his defence assistant Brigadier L. S. Lidder, his staff officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh,[13] and five NCOs and soldiers: Havildar Satpal, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik B Sai Teja.[2][3][14][6]
Aftermath
The Indian Air Force announced an inquiry into the crash. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met on the evening of the disaster to decide on further course of action. The CCS was headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh is expected to make a formal announcement in the Parliament.[15]
See also
- List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (2020–present)
- List of sole survivors of aviation accidents and incidents
References
- ^ "Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, wife among 13 killed in chopper crash". The Economic Times. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ a b "India's top military officer, CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, dies in Tamil Nadu helicopter crash". India Today. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ a b Goswami, Sohini (8 December 2021). "Chief of defence staff Gen Bipin Rawat dies in IAF chopper crash in Tamil Nadu". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Madhav, Pramod (8 December 2021). "CDS General Bipin Rawat's chopper crashes in Tamil Nadu". India Today. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "IAF copter goes down: From crash location to where Gen Bipin Rawat was heading, here's what we know". Firstpost. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, 12 others confirmed dead in TN chopper crash". The New Indian Express. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, wife, 11 others die in IAF chopper crash: Timeline of events". India Today. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Indian Air Force [@IAF_MCC] (8 December 2021). "With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "CDS chopper crash: 13 of 14 personnel on-board confirmed dead". ANI News. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Indian Air Force [@IAF_MCC] (8 December 2021). "An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Noronha, Rehul (8 December 2021). "Sole survivor of IAF chopper crash has family serving in all three services of armed forces". India Today. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Indian Air Force [@IAF_MCC] (8 December 2021). "Gp Capt Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Singh, Rahul (8 December 2021). "General Rawat, his wife and 11 others killed in IAF chopper crash". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Dutta, Sharangee (8 December 2021). "Who is Group Captain Varun Singh? Know about lone survivor of IAF chopper crash". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Gupta, Swati; Sud, Vedika; Mogul, Rhea (8 December 2021). "India's top military chief killed in air force helicopter crash". CNN. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)