Three years after the tragic Mi-17 V5 helicopter crash that claimed the life of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 others, the Standing Committee on Defence has officially attributed the incident to ‘Human error (Aircrew)’. Also Read : Current Affairs 2024 — SSB Interview Material — English Study Material — AFCAT CDS NDA NCERT Notes
The 18th Lok Sabha’s Standing Committee report highlighted that the December 8, 2021, crash, near the hilly terrains of Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, was one of nine accidents recorded by the Indian Air Force during the 2021-2022 financial year.
The committee's report confirmed earlier speculations about pilot error being a likely cause of the crash.
The report noted, “The accident was a result of entry into clouds due to an unexpected change in weather conditions in the valley. This led to spatial disorientation of the pilot, resulting in a Controlled Flight Into Terrain.”
The Mi-17 V5 helicopter crash left no immediate survivors, with Group Captain Varun Singh, a Shaurya Chakra awardee, being the sole survivor initially.
However, after battling severe burns for a week, he succumbed to his injuries at a military hospital in Bengaluru.
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