A Parliamentary panel report has stated that “Human Error (Aircrew)” caused the Mi-17 V5 helicopter crash that killed General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 12 others on December 8, 2021. The helicopter crashed near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, while heading to the Defence Staff Services College in Wellington.
The Standing Committee on Defence’s report revealed that this crash was part of several accidents. Between FY 2017 and 2022, the Indian Air Force (IAF) reported 34 accidents. The crash involving General Rawat was one of nine IAF accidents in FY 2021-2022.
The inquiry found that the weather changed suddenly, causing the helicopter to enter clouds. This led to the pilot losing orientation, and the helicopter crashed into the terrain.
The Mi-17 V5 helicopter took off from Sulur Air Force base in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, with General Rawat, his wife, and other military personnel on board. It crashed into the hills just before reaching its destination.
Out of the 14 people on board, only Group Captain Varun Singh, a Shaurya Chakra awardee, survived initially. However, he later died a week later from his injuries in a Bengaluru military hospital.
ROHIT
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