On Wednesday afternoon, an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter with Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, said the IAF. All the injured people aboard the Mi-17V5 helicopter have been evacuated from the accident site, news agency PTI quoted official sources as saying. Local military officials have reached the spot. Efforts are on to retrieve the bodies and verify the identity. As per the reports, the CDS was on his way to the Defence Staff College, Wellington. There was no immediate information about General Rawat's condition. The Air Force said that the Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the accident.
Army helicopter crashes with CDS General Bipin Rawat in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, probe ordered
A total of 14 people were on board the helicopter, including Bipin Rawat, his wife, defence assistants, security commandos and Air Force pilots. The Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17V5 helicopter was carrying Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat and 13 others on board, met with an accident near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu today. An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.
Mi-17V5 Helicopter
Mi-17V5 is a Russian-made military transport version of Mi-8 helicopters. It is used to deploy troops, arms transport, fire support, patrol and search and rescue missions. It is considered as one of the most advanced military transport helicopters in the world. Mi-17V5 helicopter is armed with Shturm-V missiles, S-8 rockets, a 23mm machine gun, PKT machine guns and AKM submarine guns.