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2021 Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash: Difference between revisions
2021 Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash (edit)
Revision as of 14:48, 10 December 2021
, 10 December 2021Updated
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{{Short description|Helicopter crash in India with 13 dead}} | |||
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2021}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} | |||
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence | {{Infobox aircraft occurrence | ||
| name = 2021 Indian Air Force Mi-17 crash | | name = 2021 Indian Air Force Mi-17 crash | ||
| image = | | image = Indian Mil Mi-17 V5.jpg | ||
| caption = An Indian | | image_size = 270px | ||
| caption = An Indian Mil Mi-17V-5, similar to the one involved | |||
| date = {{start date|df=y|2021|12|08}} | | date = {{start date|df=y|2021|12|08}} | ||
| summary = Bad weather, poor visibility (investigation pending); Crashed into hillside | | summary = Bad weather, poor visibility (investigation pending); Crashed into hillside | ||
| occurrence_type = Accident | | occurrence_type = Accident | ||
| site = | | site = Nanjappachatiram, [[Bandishola]] panchayat, [[Coonoor]] taluk, [[Nilgiris district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]] | ||
| origin = [[Sulur Air Force Station]], Tamil Nadu, India | | origin = [[Sulur Air Force Station]], Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| destination = [[Defence Services Staff College]], [[Wellington, Tamil Nadu|Wellington]], Coonoor, | | destination = [[Defence Services Staff College]], [[Wellington, Tamil Nadu|Wellington]], Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| passengers = | | passengers = 10 | ||
| crew = | | crew = 4<ref name=cds>{{Cite web|date=8 December 2021|title=Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, wife among 13 killed in chopper crash|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/army-chopper-crashes-in-tamil-nadu-bipin-rawat-was-reportedly-on-board/articleshow/88161974.cms |access-date=2021-12-08|website=[[The Economic Times]]|language=en}}</ref> | ||
| fatalities = 13 | | fatalities = 13 | ||
| survivors = 1 | | survivors = 1 | ||
| missing = | | missing = | ||
| aircraft_type = [[Mi-17|Mil Mi- | | aircraft_type = [[Mi-17|Mil Mi-17V-5]] | ||
| operator = [[Indian Air Force]] | | operator = [[Indian Air Force]] | ||
| tail_number = ZP 5164 | | tail_number = ZP 5164 | ||
}} | }} | ||
On 8 December 2021, a | On 8 December 2021, a [[Mil Mi-17|Mil Mi-17V-5]] transport helicopter operated by the [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF) crashed between [[Coimbatore]] and [[Wellington, Tamil Nadu|Wellington]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], after departing from [[Sulur Air Force Station]]. The helicopter was carrying [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]] [[General (India)|General]] [[Bipin Rawat]] and 13 others, including his wife [[Madhulika Rawat]] and staff. All people on board except one, an air force officer, died in the crash. | ||
== | ==Aircraft and crew== | ||
{{Main|Mil Mi-17}} | |||
The Russian-built<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=India: Military chief, 12 others die in helicopter crash|url=https://www.dw.com/en/india-military-chief-12-others-die-in-helicopter-crash/a-60053608|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-08|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Mil Mi-17|Mi-17]] medium-lift helicopter was one of the first batch of 80 of its type built for the IAF under the terms of a 2008 contract.<ref>{{cite news |last= Chhina |first=Man Aman Singh |date=9 December 2021 |title=Explained: The helicopter CDS Bipin Rawat was in |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cds-bipin-rawat-mi-17-v5-helicopter-crash-7663146/ |work=The Indian Express |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> Delivered to the IAF in 2013, the helicopter had flown over 26 hours without incident since its most recent servicing.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mukul |first1=Pranav|last2= Chhina |first2=Man Aman Singh |date=9 December 2021 |title=Advanced and robust chopper; weather could have been crash factor |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cds-bipin-rawat-mi-17-v5-helicopter-crash-7663146/ |work=The Indian Express |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> | |||
Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, the commanding officer of [[No. 109 Helicopter Unit, IAF|109 Helicopter Unit]], was the [[pilot in command]],<ref name="TNIE_chopper_crash"/> with co-pilot Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh and two junior warrant officers comprising the rest of the crew.<ref name="CDS_India_Today">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=8 December 2021 |title=India's top military officer, CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, dies in Tamil Nadu helicopter crash|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cds-gen-bipin-rawat-no-more-dead-iaf-helicopter-crash-tamil-nadu-coonoor-1885554-2021-12-08 |work=India Today |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> | |||
==Accident== | |||
The passengers had boarded the flight around 11:45 AM local time. At 11:48 AM local time, the helicopter took off with 10 passengers and 4 crew members from [[Sulur Air Force Station]], headed roughly {{convert|80|km|abbr=on}} to the [[Defence Services Staff College]] (DSSC) in Wellington, Tamil Nadu.<ref name="Rajnath Parliament" /><ref name="TNIE_chopper_crash">{{cite news |first=M. |last=Saravanan|last2=Sundar|first2=P. S. |date=8 December 2021 |title=First Chief of Defence Bipin Rawat, 12 others killed in chopper crash in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/dec/08/first-chief-of-defence-bipin-rawat-12-others-killed-in-chopper-crash-in-tamil-nadus-coonoor-2393293.html |work=The New Indian Express |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> General Rawat, his wife and his staff were travelling to the DSSC, where Rawat was to address the college's faculty and student officers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Rahul |title=General Rawat, his wife and 11 others killed in IAF chopper crash |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/general-rawat-his-wife-and-11-others-killed-in-iaf-chopper-crash-101638969201110.html |access-date=9 December 2021 |agency=Hindustan Times |ref=Hindustan_Times_singh}}</ref> The flight was scheduled to arrive at Wellington by 12:15 PM. | |||
At 12:08 PM local time, the helicopter lost contact with the Sulur Air force base.<ref name="Rajnath Parliament" /> It crashed near a residential colony of private tea estate employees on the outskirts of the hamlet of Nanjappachatiram, [[Bandishola]] panchayat, in the Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area of [[Coonoor]] taluk, [[Nilgiris district]].<ref name="TNIE_chopper_crash"/><ref>{{cite news |first=M. |last=Saravanan|date=8 December 2021 |title=Coonoor helicopter mishap: 'One of the injured men asked for water', recount eyewitnesses |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/dec/08/coonoor-helicopter-mishap-one-of-the-injured-men-asked-for-water-recount-eyewitnesses-2393307.html|work=The New Indian Express |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="Sulur_tragedy">{{cite news |last=Saravanan |first=M.|date=8 December 2021 |title=Sulur chopper tragedy: 'Never seen anything this tragic', say Coonoor fire and rescue personnel |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/dec/08/sulur-chopper-tragedy-never-seen-anything-this-tragic-say-coonoor-fire-and-rescue-personnel-2393297.html|work=The New Indian Express |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> The crash site was {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} from the flight's intended destination.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Madhav|first=Pramod |date=8 December 2021|title=CDS General Bipin Rawat's chopper crashes in Tamil Nadu|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/army-chopper-crash-tamil-nadu-coonoor-1885464-2021-12-08|access-date=2021-12-08|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref name=cds2>{{Cite web|date=8 December 2021|title=IAF copter goes down: From crash location to where Gen Bipin Rawat was heading, here's what we know|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/iaf-copter-goes-down-from-crash-location-to-where-gen-bipin-rawat-was-heading-heres-what-we-know-10195471.html|access-date=2021-12-08|website=[[Firstpost]]|language=en}}</ref> According to an eyewitness, he "saw the helicopter coming down... it hit one tree and was on fire. There were plumes of smoke when I ran over. In minutes, the fire was higher than my house."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=News9|date=2021-12-08|title=CDS Bipin Rawat's death: 'Chopper was flying low and hit trees,' say eyewitnesses|url=https://www.news9live.com/india/chopper-was-flying-low-and-hit-trees-eyewitnesses-recall-chopper-crash-that-killed-cds-bipin-rawat-139200|access-date=2021-12-10|website=NEWS9LIVE|language=en}}</ref> Villagers threw water over the fire in attempt to put it out.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-12-08|title=Bipin Rawat: India's top general dies in helicopter crash|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59576082|access-date=2021-12-08}}</ref> | |||
Initial reports of the crash emerged around 12:20 PM, with a search-and-rescue operation launched at 12:25 PM. The IAF officially confirmed General Rawat's presence on the flight in a tweet sent at 1:53 PM.<ref name="timeline_India_Today">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=8 December 2021 |title=CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, wife, 11 others die in IAF chopper crash: Timeline of events|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tamil-nadu-coonoor-iaf-chopper-crash-gen-bipin-rawat-dead-timeline-1885625-2021-12-08 |work=India Today |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> Rescue operations continued until 3:25 PM.<ref name="TNIE_chopper_crash"/> Fire and Rescue Services personnel who managed to reach the crash site after some difficulty, as the site was 500 meters from a major road, reported the crash victims had been burnt beyond recognition.<ref name="Sulur_tragedy"/> | |||
==Casualties== | ==Casualties== | ||
Following the crash, the IAF released statements confirming the death of | [[File:Bipin_Rawat_Chief_of_Defence_Staff_(CDS).jpg|thumbnail|upright|alt=India's first Chief of Defence Staff General [[Bipin Rawat]] died in the crash.|India's first [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]] General [[Bipin Rawat]] died in the crash.]] | ||
The ten passengers on board the flight included [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]] [[General (India)|General]] [[Bipin Rawat]], his wife Madhulika Rawat, liaison officer Group Captain [[Varun Singh (Indian Air Force Officer)|Varun Singh]] and two members of the general's personal staff, and five NCOs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Rahul |date=8 December 2021 |title=General Rawat, his wife and 11 others killed in IAF chopper crash |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/general-rawat-his-wife-and-11-others-killed-in-iaf-chopper-crash-101638969201110.html |work=The Hindustan Times |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> Following the crash, the IAF released statements at 18:03 confirming the death of 13 of the 14 people on board, including General Rawat and his wife.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Indian Air Force |author-link= Indian Air Force |user=IAF_MCC |number=1468559355868028936|title=With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident.}}</ref><ref name="brmil">{{Cite web|date=8 December 2021|access-date =2021-12-08|title=CDS chopper crash: 13 of 14 personnel on-board confirmed dead|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/cds-chopper-crash-13-of-14-personnel-on-board-confirmed-dead20211208175410/|website=[[ANI News]]|language=en}}</ref> As of 21:30 local time, all 13 of the bodies had been recovered from the crash site.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Indian Air Force |author-link= Indian Air Force |user=IAF_MCC |number=1468496444063576065|title=An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.}}</ref> | |||
Group Captain Varun Singh, a Directing Staff at DSSC, was the sole survivor of the crash, and was taken to the military hospital in [[Wellington, Tamil Nadu|Wellington]], Tamil Nadu, for surgery.<ref name="Sole_Survivor_India_Today">{{cite news |last=Noronha |first=Rehul |date=8 December 2021 |title=Sole survivor of IAF chopper crash has family serving in all three services of armed forces|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tamil-nadu-coonor-iaf-chopper-crash-group-captain-varun-singh-family-armed-forces-1885696-2021-12-08|work=India Today |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Indian Air Force |author-link= Indian Air Force |user=IAF_MCC |number=1468559358275436550|title=Gp Capt Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington.}}</ref> Having sustained burns over 45% of his body and in critical but stable condition, he was subsequently transferred to the Command Hospital in Bengaluru for further treatment.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bhalla|first=Abhishek |date=9 December 2021 |title=Chopper crash survivor Varun Singh airlifted to Bengaluru |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/group-captain-varun-singh-iaf-chopper-crash-tamil-nadu-bengaluru-treatment-1886032-2021-12-09 |work=India Today |location= |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> | |||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
The [[Cabinet Committee on Security]] (CCS) met on the evening of the disaster to decide on a further course of action. The CCS was headed by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]. The Minister of Defence [[Rajnath Singh]] made a formal announcement in [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] on 9 December regarding the incident.<ref name="Rajnath Parliament">{{Cite web|last=Sinha|first=Shreya|date=December 9, 2021|title=Read full statement of Rajnath Singh in Parliament on IAF chopper crash|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iaf-chopper-crash-cds-bipin-rawat-death-rajnath-singh-parliament-live-updates-breaking-news-1885743-2021-12-09#181105|website=India Today}}</ref> The [[Official Opposition (India)|Opposition]] suspended its protests in [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] for one day as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the crash.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sinha|first=Shreya|date=December 9, 2021|title=Opposition suspends protest in Parliament for the day in tribute to CDS Gen Rawat, others|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iaf-chopper-crash-cds-bipin-rawat-death-rajnath-singh-parliament-live-updates-breaking-news-1885743-2021-12-09#181110|website=India Today}}</ref> The flight data recorder was recovered on the morning of 9 December.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=9 December 2021 |title=Black box of crashed helicopter recovered |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/data-recorder-of-crashed-m-17-helicopter-recovered-348196 |work=The Tribune |location= |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> A tri-service commission of inquiry was established by the IAF, headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, the AOC-in-C Training Command.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=9 December 2021 |title=Air Marshal Manvendra Singh to head tri-service inquiry into IAF chopper crash: Rajnath Singh |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/air-marshal-manvendra-singh-tri-service-inquiry-iaf-chopper-crash-bipin-rawat-rajnath-lok-sabha-1885829-2021-12-09 |work=India Today |location= |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
*[[List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (2020–present)]] | * [[List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (2020–present)]] | ||
* [[List of sole survivors of aviation accidents and incidents]] | |||
* [[Smolensk air disaster]] | |||
{{Clear}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | |||
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 2021}} | {{Aviation accidents and incidents in 2021}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Indian Air Force Mi-17 crash, 2021}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Indian Air Force Mi-17 crash, 2021}} | ||
[[Category:2021 disasters in India]] | [[Category:2021 disasters in India]] | ||
[[Category:2020s in Tamil Nadu]] | |||
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving military aircraft|2021]] | |||
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Mil Mi-17|2021]] | [[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Mil Mi-17|2021]] | ||
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2021]] | [[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2021]] | ||
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in India|2021]] | [[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in India|2021]] | ||
[[Category:Coonoor]] | |||
[[Category:December 2021 events in India|A]] | |||