"Big Mistake" To Shoot Down Our Own Chopper In J&K, Says Air Force Chief

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The Mi17 V5 chopper was shot down at Budgam near Srinagar on February 27, a day after Indian Air Force fighters went into Pakistani territory and bombed a terror training facility at Balakot.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Action is being taken against two officers, Air Force chief said
2. "Big mistake": Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
3. Mi-17 V5 chopper was shot down at Budgam near Srinagar

 

The shooting down of an Mi-17 V5 helicopter by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on February 27 was a "big mistake", Air Chief Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria said today. Six IAF personnel and a civilian were killed in the incident, which took place on a day Indian and Pakistani fighter planes exchanged fire along the Line of Control.

Action is being taken against two officers.

"It was a big mistake on our part. We accept it," the Air Chief said, adding that a Court of inquiry had completed its sittings last week. "Our missile hit (the helicopter). This has been established. Administrative action and disciplinary action is being taken. Necessary steps are being taken so such incidents don't repeat," said Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria.

The Mi17 V5 chopper was shot down at Budgam near Srinagar a day after IAF fighters went into Pakistani territory and bombed a terror training facility in Balakot.

A court of inquiry found that the chopper was brought down by friendly fire from the Spyder air defence missile system at the Srinagar airbase.

The officers who handled the air defence system mistook the helicopter for an enemy aircraft, it was found. The helicopter crashed 10 minutes after take-off. Visuals showed the wreckage of the chopper in flames and a large number of villagers gathered around it.

The Mi-17 chopper broke into two and caught fire immediately.

The incident took place in the backdrop of heavy shelling and firing from across the border after the Balakot strike, which was carried out by India days after the terror attack in Pulwama in which 40 soldiers were killed.

 

Later that day, Indian and Pakistani jets faced off in a dogfight in which Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani fighter plane.

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Shooting down Mi-17 in Budgam was a ‘big mistake’ on our part: IAF Chief

In his first press conference after being appointed the Indian Air Force Chief, Bhadauria said Air Force has achieved many important milestones in the last year including Balakot airstrikes.

Indian Air Force Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on Friday admitted that shooting down its own Mi-17  helicopter in Kashmir on February 27 was a “big mistake” and punitive action is being taken against the guilty.

 

“It was a big mistake on our part to shoot down our own helicopter on Feb 27. Court of inquiry submitted its report on shooting down of chopper, disciplinary action being taken against two officers,” he said.

In his first press conference after being appointed the Indian Air Force Chief, Bhadauria said Air Force has achieved many important milestones in the last year including Balakot airstrikes.  He reiterated that IAF is prepared to meet any contingency and does not rest on past laurels.

Talking about Balakot strikes Bhadauria said that Pakistan lost an F-16 and India a MiG-21 in aerial engagement with the Pakistan Air Force a day after the Balakot strikes.

Bhadauria also said acquisition of Rafale aircraft and S400 air defence systems will greatly enhance IAF’s operational capabilities.

On February 27, a surface-to-air missile of the Indian Air Force brought down the Mi-17 aircraft in Kashmir’s Budgam, a day after India’s airstrike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in Pakistan. The helicopter went down around 10 minutes after taking off when Indian and Pakistani fighter jets were engaged in fierce aerial combat in Nowshera. A missile was fired at the helicopter as the IAF ground staff thought it was an enemy chopper.  Six IAF personnel onboard and a civilian on the ground were killed in the crash.

A high-level probe had concluded in August.

The probe found that the ‘Identification of Friend or Foe’ (IFF) system on-board the helicopter was switched off and there were “vital gaps” in communication and coordination between the ground staff and the crew of the chopper. It also found violations of standard operating procedures. The IFF helps air defence radars identify whether an aircraft or helicopter is friendly or hostile.

Five IAF personnel, including the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Srinagar base, were held responsible for the crash.

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Mi-17 crash

Locals gather as army soldiers stand near the wreckage of an aircraft after it crashed in Garend Kalan village of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Feb 27. 

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Ooh IAF shot our one Chopper