CBI to probe helicopter crash

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the September 2 helicopter crash in the Nallamala forests in which Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and four others were killed.
Earlier, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram readily agreed to the request for a CBI inquiry made by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah in a letter to him.
Besides, a committee comprising M.R. Reddy, retired IPS officer and expert in VIP security; and the former Director-General of Civil Aviation, H.S. Khosla, was constituted to inquire into the circumstances that existed “before, during and after” the Bell-430 helicopter crashed. It would submit its report within 60 days.
The investigations would be held in addition to two separate inquiries already being conducted by the DGCA and the Criminal Investigation Department of the State police.
The Central Bureau of Investigation and the experts committee would also focus on why pilot S.K. Bhatia deviated 18 km from the original flight path, and identify lapses on the part of the administration, if any, which led to the crash.
08/09/09 M. Malleswara Rao/The Hindu

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Sep 2009, Safety Sep 2009