A report of the inquiry into the chopper crash incident in Tamil Nadu, in which chief of defence staff Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others were killed last month, states that there was no technical failure or even sabotage. The helicopter crashed due to sudden cloud cover and reduced visibility, the report added.
The air force on Wednesday apprised defence minister Rajnath Singh about the findings of the tri-services investigation into the December 8 chopper crash. Sources told CNN-News18 that the probe team had completed its investigation into the crash of the Mi-17V5 helicopter.
The report stated that controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) was the reason behind the crash, and not any technical failure or even sabotage. It was simply due to reduced visibility due to sudden cloud cover, sources added.
The court of inquiry into the crash was headed by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh. Gen Rawat’s wife Madhulika, his defence adviser Brigadier LS Lidder, staff officer to the CDS, Lt Col Harjinder Singh and decorated pilot Group Captain Varun Singh were among 13 others killed in the crash near Coonoor.
It is learnt that the probe team examined all likely scenarios for the crash, including possible human error or whether it was a case of disorientation of crew when the helicopter was preparing for landing. Air Marshal Singh, currently heading the Bengaluru-headquartered Training Command of the IAF, is known to be one of the best air crash investigators in the country.
Before taking the reins of the Training Command, the Air Marshal was the Director General (Inspection and Safety) at the Air headquarters and developed various protocols for flight safety while serving in the post.
(With PTI inputs)
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