Budgam Crash: IAF Confirms Death of 6 Airmen, 1 Civilian in M-17 Chopper Accident
Two persons died after a Mi-17 transport chopper crashed on Wednesday in Budgam district, officials said.
Srinagar, February 27: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday confirmed the death of 6 airmen in a crash reported earlier in the day in Jammu & Kashmir's Budgam. Apart from the IAF personnel, 1 civilian also sustained fatal injuries in the crash. An investigation will be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of the accident, and also to fix accountability in the case.
The helicopter which crashed in the Valley has been confirmed as Mi-17 V5 transport chopper. The accident occurred at 10:10am in the morning, at a time when the Air Force was responding to the airspace violation by their Pakistani counterparts. Pakistan Does a U-Turn, Now Says 'Only 1 IAF Pilot In Custody'.
A total of 6 IAF personnel were onboard when the chopper crashed. It landed in the fields of Budgam, where a local, identified as 20-year-old Kifayat Hussain, was caught in the explosion following the crash. He was rushed to the hospital, but declared dead on arrival.
"Today, one Mi-17 V5 helicopter got airborne from Srinagar airfield at 1000 hrs for a routine mission. It crashed around 1010 hrs near Budgam, J&K. All six air warriors on board helicopter, suffered fatal injuries. A court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate accident," said the statement issued by the IAF.
Rumours had turned rife on social media that the ill-fated Mi-17 chopper was attacked by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which crossed the LoC in the morning. The Pakistan Army, however, issued a statement claiming that it is not responsible for the Budgam crash. Its claim has been validated by the IAF, which has cited technical failures for the crash.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 27, 2019 07:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).