Two pilots were killed as a state govt helicopter crashed at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur when on a routine training sortie.
The unfortunate incident occurred on May 12th night in Raipur when two pilots (Captian Gopal Krishna Panda and Captain A P Shrivastava) were killed when their helicopter crashed at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur. AIR correspondent reports that the incident took place when the Chhattisgarh state helicopter was on a routine training sortie.
Reportedly, the helicopter caught fire while they were attempting to land the aircraft. The tragic incident took place during a flying practice at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur.
Raipur senior superintendent of police Prashant Agrawal said that two pilots on board the chopper were seriously injured in the crash and instantly taken to a nearby private hospital where they were declared dead. The deceased were identified as Captian Gopal Krishna Panda and Captain A P Shrivastava.
A detailed technical investigation at the behest of DGCA and the State Government shall be undertaken to ascertain the exact cause. Governor Anusuiya Uikey and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed deep sorrow at the loss of lives and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel shared on Twitter, “Just got the shocking news of the helicopter crash at Raipur airport. The tragic incident took away the life of both our pilots, Captain Panda and Captain Srivastava. May God give strength to their families and peace to the departed souls.”
According to the statement issued by the state government, initial signs suggest technical malfunction as the cause of the crash. The actual cause behind the crash is yet to be ascertained. An elaborate technical investigation shall be carried out on behalf of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Chhattisgarh Government to figure out the exact reason behind the accident says a report.
Sources say it was an AgustaWestland 109 helicopter. Officials state they are checking if the runway has suffered any damage. “It was on a routine training sortie. Initial indications suggest technical malfunction caused the crash,” a government spokesperson said.
Apart from AgustaWestland 109 helicopter’s recent mishap, the IAF currently has around 131 Mi-17V5 choppers in service inclusive of the chopper that crashed in Tamil Nadu killing Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 12 others. Seven accidents each were of the Army and the IAF and one involved the Navy. There were 15 accidents involving helicopters of the three Services in the last five years, the government said in a written reply in Parliament on Friday. Is it time to change these helicopters with so many incidents as these?