The Indian Air Force (IAF) has present a detailed report to defence minister Rajnath Singh in regards to the CDS Bipin Rawat helicopter crash.
Former chief of defence staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 12 other military personnel were killed in a helicopter crash at Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on December 8 last year.
“IAF gave a detailed presentation for over 45 minutes to defence minister Rajnath Singh on the CDS chopper crash inquiry report. The tri-services probe report has given its findings on reasons behind the crash and made recommendations for the future chopper operations for flying VIPs,” government sources were quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Giving out details about the helicopter crash, the inquiry team said that the Mi-17v5 helicopter was following a railway line in the hills when it entered a thick cloud cover that emerged suddenly.
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The crew decided to fly out of the cloud cover rather than land and hit a cliff in the process, the sources said.
Sources added that the entire crew of the helicopter was of “master green” category, which is given to the best of pilots in the transport aircraft and helicopter fleets of the three forces.
“Master green” pilots are known for landing or taking off even in low visibility.
The inquiry team also reportedly recommended crews that could be a mix of “master green” and other category pilots.