Agencies

ITANAGAR/NEW DELHI, Oct 6:Five Indian Air Force crew members and two Indian Army personnel were killed after an IAF chopper crashed near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh Friday morning. According to IAF sources, the crash took place a little after 6 am. The Mi-17 V5 helicopter was on an air maintenance mission when it crashed.

IAF identified the deceased personnel as Wing Commander Vikram Upadhyay, Squadron Leader S Tiwari, MWO A K Singh, Sergeant Gautam and Sergeant Satish Kumar. The two deceased from the Indian Army are Sepoy E Balaji and Sepoy HN Deka. The Indian Air Force has ordered a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the cause of the chopper crash.

Referring to a string of crashes of IAF’s choppers and military jets in recent years, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said on Thursday: “Our losses in the peacetime are a cause of concern. We are making concerted efforts to minimise accidents and preserve our assets.”

In May this year, two IAF pilots died when the Sukhoi-30 jet crashed near the Assam-Arunachal border during a routine training mission.

The Mi-17V-5 is considered to be one of the world’s most advanced military transport helicopters. In 2016, Russia handed over three Mi-17V-5 to India. Designed to transport cargo inside the cabin and on an external sling, Mi-17V-5 also ranks among the most technically advanced helicopters of the Mi-8/17 type, incorporating the best engineering solutions from previous generations.

In 2008, Russia’s Rosoboronexport signed a contract for the delivery of 80 Mi-17V-5 to India, which was completed in 2011 -2013. In 2012-2013, three additional contracts were signed to supply a total of 71 Mi-17V-5 helicopters to meet the needs of the Indian Air Force.

In another crash on July 4, three Indian Air Force pilots were killed during a rescue operation of flood-affected people in the state. The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) had lost contact soon after its take off from Sagalee before the rescue. The mutilated bodies of Wing Commander Mandeep Singh Dhillon, Flight Lieutenant Pramod Kumar Singh and Sergeant Rajendra Yashwant Gujjar were recovered along with the wreckage of the chopper three days later.

Khandu mourns tragic incident

TAWANG:Shocked over the tragic news of the Indian Air force helicopter crash, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members of those who lost their life in the tragic accident.

In his condolence message, Khandu deeply mourned the death of the Army and Air force personnel and termed the incident very unfortunate.

The CMO has confirmed that all 7 dead bodies have been retrieved from the accident spot and brought to Tezpur. 

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Governor mourns deaths of personnel 

ITANAGAR:Governor Brig (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd) has expressed deep sense of sorrow over the death of armed forces personnel in the tragic crash of the Indian Air Force helicopter today.

Brig (Dr.) Mishra (Retd) said that the unfortunate accident has saddened all as the experienced pilot and crew of the aircraft were accomplishing a very challenging logistic mission for the troops and the citizens in the inaccessible part of the Frontier State. The noble services of these armed forces personnel will be remembered by all of us forever, the Governor said.

 

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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