Two Mi-17 choppers collide, nine dead

New Delhi: Nine Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel, including five officers, were killed when two Mi-17 helicopters collided mid-air near Jamnagar air force base in Gujarat on Thursday. The collision took place near a firing range in Sarmat village, 20 km from the air force station and 15km from Jamnagar town.
“The helicopters crashed five minutes after they took off from Jamnagar air force station for a routine flying training mission,” said wing commander Gerard Galway.
The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry to establish the cause of such an “unusual” mid-air collision which claimed the lives of three wing commanders, a squadron leader, a flying officer and four personnel below officer rank.
The court of inquiry will ascertain if the pilots violated the standard operating procedures (SOP). Prima facie, it appears that both the helicopters were not maintaining the required distance while carrying out such drills. “Normally the distance between two helicopters is about 60 metres when they take off simultaneously or are flying in close formation. The investigation will find out if there was any deviation from the SOP or a case of cockpit indiscipline,” a senior IAF official said.
30/08/12 Daily News & Analysis

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Aug 2012, Safety Aug 2012