The accident happened due to the mistake of the aircrew, big revelation in CDS Bipin Rawat helicopter crash

New Delhi: In the year 2021, Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash. This accident happened in the mountains near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. A total of 12 people including his/her wife Madhulika Rawat lost their lives in this. A report related to this accident has come out, in which it has been confirmed that the accident occurred due to pilot error.

What’s in the report?

A report of the Standing Committee on Defense was recently presented in the Lok Sabha. The report states that the Mi-17 V5 helicopter crash was caused by ‘human error (aircrew)’. That is, it is clear in the report that this accident happened due to pilot error. The committee investigated a total of 34 IAF accidents that occurred between 2017 and 2022. Of these, 9 accidents occurred in 2021-22.

This thing was in the initial report

The investigation team had said in its initial report, “Due to the sudden change in weather in the valley, the helicopter went into the clouds. Due to this, the pilot lost the sense of direction. Due to this, ‘controlled flight into terrain’ occurred.” In other words, the pilot did not know that the helicopter was about to hit the ground. The investigation team analyzed the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. The most probable cause of the accident was determined after questioning all the witnesses.

How did the accident happen?

On December 8, 2021, General Rawat, his/her wife Madhulika and 12 other armed forces personnel were on their way from Sulur Air Force Base in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, to the Defense Services Staff College, Wellington. They were flying in a Mi-17 V5 helicopter. The helicopter crashed into the hills just minutes before landing. CDS General Rawat, his/her wife and 11 other people were killed in this accident. Group Captain Varun Singh, a Shaurya Chakra winner, was the only survivor of the accident. But a week later, he/she also died during treatment.