The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) has been recovered and will be sent for analysis, says IAF official
A tri-service inquiry has been ordered by the Indian Air Force under the chairmanship of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command Air Marshal Manvendra Singh. Mi-17V5 helicopter crash in which Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other army personnel were killed, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said in a statement in Parliament on Thursday.
Read also | Vacancy at the top level due to the death of CDS Rawat
Flight Data Recorder (FDR) of the crashed helicopter An Air Force official said that it has been recovered from the rubble. It will be sent for analysis to find out what happened in the last moments before it fell into the forest.
“With deep sadness and a heavy heart, I stand to accompany the unfortunate news of the crash of a military helicopter in the afternoon of December 8, 2021. India’s first CDS, General Bipin Rawat onboard,” Mr. Singh said in statements in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. “The last rites of the CDS will be performed with full military honours.”
Giving details of the incident, Mr Singh said that General Rawat was on a scheduled visit to Defense Services Staff College, Wellington to interact with the student officers. The IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter took off from Sulur Air Base at 11:48 am on Wednesday and was expected to land in Wellington by 12:15 pm. Air Traffic Control lost contact with helicopter at Sulur Air Base at around 12:08 PM
Following this, some locals saw forest fire near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they saw the wreckage of an army helicopter engulfed in flames. “Rescue teams from the nearby local administration rushed to the spot and tried to rescue the survivors from the accident site.”
All those recovered from the wreckage were taken to the Military Hospital, Wellington, and 13 of the 14 people on board the unfortunate helicopter died. Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support at the Military Hospital in Wellington and all efforts are being made to save his life, Mr Singh concluded by paying tributes to the deceased and condolences to the bereaved families. Expressing said.
Indian Air Force Helicopter Crash | What do we know about the Mi-17 helicopter
Mortal remains for Delhi
All the bodies were taken by road from Wellington to Sulur at 12 noon on Thursday, as the weather was not suitable for air operations. From there, the bodies will be brought to Delhi by an Indian Air Force aircraft by evening. General Rawat is to be cremated with full military honors on December 10.
A defense official said it was difficult to positively identify the bodies due to the gravity of the accident. “All possible measures are being taken for positive identification, keeping in view the sensitivity and emotional well-being of the loved ones,” the official said.
An official said a ‘tribute’ has been planned in Delhi by the country’s top leadership. It is learned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be accompanied by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at the airport.
Close family members of all the deceased personnel are reaching Delhi and services are providing necessary help and support to them.
On the identification process, the official said that apart from scientific measures, the help of close family members would be taken for positive identification. “Negative remains will be released to next of kin only after positive identification.”
The official said that proper military rites of all personnel would be ensured in consultation with close relatives after the process of positive identification is completed.
Officials said GP Capt Varun Singh was taken to Sulur by road in a vehicle ambulance to take him to the Command Hospital, Bangalore.
,