Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat’s Chopper Crashes, 13 On Board

Army chopper crash: Five people are dead and two are in hospital with severe burn injuries. More details are not known so far

An army chopper carrying Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and 13 others crashed today in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Air Force said.

Five bodies have been found from the crash site and two have been taken to hospital with severe burn injuries. More details are not known so far.

General Rawat’s wife, his Defence Assistant, security commandos and Indian Air Force personnel were reportedly among the 9 on board.

The Indian Air Force confirmed in a tweet that the Chief of Defence Staff was on the flight. He had taken a flight from Delhi to Sulur earlier today and that flight manifest had nine people.

“An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.”

An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021

The crash took place in the Nilgiris, shortly after the Mi-series chopper took off from the army base in Sulur in Coimbatore.

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