Chopper Crash: Gen Bipin Rawat, his family members and staff were on the helicopter
New Delhi:
Sources said Wednesday afternoon that pilot error was the likely cause of the helicopter crash that led to the death of Defense Chief of Staff General Bipin Rawat last month.
Sources said the Mi-17V5 helicopter carried General Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 12 other armed forces personnel – from Sulur Air Base in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu to the Defense Staff Service College. in Wellington – crashed after a CFIT, or Controlled Flight. Topography, appearance.
CFIT occurs when an aircraft capable of flying, while under the full control of the pilot, accidentally enters terrain, water, or obstacles.
According to IATA (International Air Transport Association), the term is used to refer to accidents that occur in flight with terrain, water or another obstacle without any sign of loss of control.
The US Federal Aviation Administration says CFIT is ” … an unintentional collision with terrain (ground, mountain, water, or obstacle) while the aircraft is under active control. “
The key difference in such incidents is the fact that the aircraft is under the control of the crew.
The sources said the crash took place in cloudy weather and stressed that the plane – described by some former NDTV Army officers as “very safe” – was not malfunctioning at the time of the flight. fall.
A three-service investigation – led by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, the country’s top helicopter pilot – has been ordered to investigate the crash in Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu on December 8.
The crash killed CDS Gen Rawat, his wife, and 11 others. Captain Varun Singh, a passenger on the helicopter, miraculously survived the collision only to die of severe burns a few days later.
In the days after, videos of the mobile phone breakdown – filmed by locals and shared by the ANI news agency – emerged of the helicopter’s final moments.
One clip shows a helicopter flying into the dense cloud, suddenly emerging to hang over Coonoor Hill. A change in engine sound can be heard.
Sources told the ANI news agency that the helicopter was flying at low altitude and the crew decided to try flying out of the cloud cover rather than trying to land and touch the ground in the process.
General Rawat was on his way to deliver a speech to students and staff at DSSC when the helicopter crashed, just seven minutes before landing.
General Rawat, his wife and all on board were given a full military honor funeral, and thousands of people paid their respects to their memories, including the government. of foreign powers.
With input from ANI
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