Andhra Pradesh: New Controversy over YSR copter crash

New Delhi: It was close to two months back that YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh died in a Bell helicopter crash. Now some sections have raised a controversy saying the crash was a result of a conspiracy.
A Telugu daily and Telugu TV channel owned by YSR’s son Jagmohan Reddy have picked up the ‘story’.
The doubts raised over the crash are one too many.
1. How the helicopter travelling from Hyderabad to Chittoor on September 2 suddenly came down from a height of 5,500 feet to 1,500 feet?
2. How after avoiding a bigger hill the chopper collided with a smaller hillock?
3. How the helicopter piloted by an experienced crew veered off its path by 18 kms to the east before crashing in Kurnool district.
4. Why Chennai Air Traffic Control failed to properly guide the pilots?
5. If the engine of the helicopter had failed, how the blades of he chopper were still rotating at the time of the crash ?
6. Why Bell 430 helicopter was used for the Chief Minister's journey when it was allowed to be idly parked at the Begumpet airport for several months?
7. Were there any security arrangements at the Begumpet airport after it was closed down for civilian traffic a couple of years back? If so how effective were these
8. Did YSR express a fear for his life just before his death?
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), federal investigating agency, is probing the case on the request of state government. The Civil Aviation Directorate, also of Federal government has ordered an inquiry in the technical aspects. The black box has been sent to the US for analysis.
21/10/09 M Rama Rao/Asian Tribune

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