India has witnessed 15 military helicopters accidents since March 2017 including the unfortunate Mi-17V5 chopper crash in Coonor and a total of 31 people were killed in these crashes in the last five years, according to the official data presented in Lok Sabha on Friday. The details of all the 15 accidents were also presented in the house by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, which disclosed that the December 8 helicopter crash had caused the greatest number of deaths as 14 were killed including India's first CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 12 other officials.
Key Points:
1. The 15 helicopters that met with accidents included four Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), four Cheetah, two ALH (weapon system integrated) versions, three Mi-17V5, a Mi-17, and a Chetak. These accidents had caused 30 fatalities and injured a total of 20 people.
2. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt shared a detailed list of the accidents and it began with March 15, 2017, Cheetah helicopter accident which had caused no casualties.
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3. The October 2017 Mi-17V5 crash near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh had killed seven people including two officers. The other crashes included six indigenous advanced light helicopters (ALHs), four Cheetahs, a Chetak, and a Mi-17, Ajay Bhatt said.
4. Bhatt was also asked about the ALH Rudra (WSI) which crashed in in Ranjeet Sagar dam near Pathankot on August 3 this year and he said that there was no restriction on the helicopter flying over the water body. The ALH Rudra crash had killed Lt-Colonel A S Bath and Captain Jayant Joshi.
5. "However, low flying over water needs specific authorisation. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the crash," he added.
6. "The training has been structured to meet operational requirements," Bhatt replied on being asked whether pilots had been given specialised training required to fly over water. He also said that operations over a large expanse of water are restricted.
