By Categorical Information Service

BENGALURU: The Mi-17V5 helicopter with Chief of Defence Employees (CDS) Basic Bipin Rawat on board crashed 10 minutes earlier than it was to land at Wellington, the place the CDS was to deal with college students and college members on the Defence Providers Employees School.

“The timing of the air crash exhibits that the helicopter was already in descent mode,” mentioned Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar (retd) whereas discussing the doable causes for the tragic air crash through which Basic Rawat, his spouse Madhulika Rawat and 11 different had been killed in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

Ruling out dangerous climate, the previous check pilot and director of Aeronautical Improvement Company (ADA) mentioned earlier than taking off from Sulur air base, the pilot would have acquired climate clearance from Wellington. The Mi17-V5 is a part of the Air Headquarters’ Communication (Com) Squadron. It’s used for flying the President and the Prime Minister. 

“This explicit helicopter will need to have been from the Sulur air base, which has an Mi17 unit. The flight length between Sulur air base and Wellington is round quarter-hour,” he added.

A twin-engine chopper of Russian origin, the Mi17-V5 is meant to be one of many most secure helicopters on the earth. “It’s the newest acquisition and a workhorse of the Indian Air Drive (IAF) and has a sound security report,” mentioned Air Marshal BK Pandey (retd).  

The IAF veterans mentioned it’s tough to take a position the explanations for the crash and solely a Court docket of Inquiry will be capable of set up the trigger. When requested whether or not sabotage may very well be a cause, Rajkumar mentioned sabotage was an ordinary time period of reference for any Court docket of Inquiry into such deadly defence accidents. 

In the meantime, sources mentioned some locals noticed a ball of fireplace within the sky and the particles of the helicopter in flames because it fell on the bushes. “It’s doable that because the helicopter was descending, the pilot could have hit a tree due to the mist. The helicopter fell like a stone and become a ball of fireplace,” mentioned a supply.