New Delhi, 9/12: The Indian Air Force has instituted a tri-service inquiry into the tragic crash of the Mi17V5 helicopter that killed India’s first Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel.
“A tri-service enquiry regarding the incident has been ordered by Indian Air Force, headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a statement made in both Houses of the Parliament on Thursday.
Narrating the sequence of events, Singh said, “Gen Bipin Rawat was on a scheduled visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington to interact with the student Officers. The Air Force Mi17V5 helicopter took off from SulurAir Base at 11:48 am yesterday and was expected to land at Wellington by 12:15 pm.”