CBI: no sabotage or conspiracy in YSR's chopper crash

Hyderabad: An inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has ruled out any conspiracy or sabotage in the helicopter crash in which former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and four others were killed in Kurnool district on September 2, 2009.
The CBI, which carried out a detailed and very exhaustive probe, concluded that the crash was an accident which could have been averted had the pilots taken a decision to terminate the journey or change the flight path in view of the adverse weather conditions.
The premier investigating agency submitted the report to the State government as well as the Kurnool district Collector on Friday. It is learnt that the CBI had recommended the suspension of a top official of the AP Aviation Corporation who had also attracted ire earlier of the four-member Committee headed by R.K. Tyagi that conducted a separate probe into the crash.
The DGCA-constituted committee had also come to the conclusion that both pilots of the twin-engined Bell 430 had shown poor judgement in not thinking it fit to return to Hyderabad or divert the helicopter to a nearby location, although the weather was highly inclement.
The ill-fated chopper was commanded by Group Captain S.K. Bhatia as pilot and M.S. Reddy as co-pilot.
During the inquiry, several witnesses were examined and the assistance of experts from National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Central Forensic Laboratories, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Chandigarh, Rotary Wing Society of India, Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, National Remote Sensing Center, Hyderabad, Zen Technologies Ltd. Hyderabad and several others.
14/05/10 The Hindu

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General May 2010, Safety May 2010