IAF chopper with CDS Bipin Rawat onboard crashes in Tamil Nadu's coonoor; 11 of 14 confirmed dead

A total of 14 people including Bipin Rawat, his wife, Defence Assistant, security commandos and IAF pilots were on board the chopper, reported news agency ANI citing sources. (Image: Screenshot/ANI)

An Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17V5 helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others on board crashed in near Tamil Nadu's Coonoor on December 8.

11 killed out of 14 in the chopper crash, according to the sources.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to brief parliament shortly on the crash of IAF chopper in which 13 passengers including CDS Bipin Rawat was present.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is monitoring the situation following crash of IAF chopper carrying CDS Bipin Rawat & others. A meeting of senior Defence Ministry officials is underway. Singh has briefed the PM Narendra Modi about the crash, according to the sources

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will brief parliament on the crash of an army chopper in #Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. The chopper had Chief of Defence Staff #BipinRawat, his staff and family members on board.

File Pic pic.twitter.com/EumelZG7oR

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— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) December 8, 2021

The helicopter was flying from Sulur Airbase to Wellington, according to reports. Three officials have been rescued so far while a search is on for the fourth person, an official said. The injured have been taken to Wellington cantonment in Nilgiris.

#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper. pic.twitter.com/6oxG7xD8iW

— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021

The local military officers have reached the location and were told that locals have taken two bodies with 80 percent burns to a local hospital, the sources said.

"An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF said in a tweet.

An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021

General Bipin Rawat was to give a lecture at 2.45 hours.

Here is the list of the passengers who were present in the aircraft.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted "Hoping for the safety of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and others onboard the chopper. Prayers for speedy recovery".

Hoping for the safety of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and others onboard the chopper.

Prayers for speedy recovery.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 8, 2021

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to move Coimbatore from Chennai Airport today evening and then move to Nilgiris, following the incident of military chopper crash between Coimbatore and Sulur.

Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari also reaching Sulur airbase, news agency ANI has reported quoting sources.

Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K Ramachandran have reached the chopper crash site on the instructions of the CM. He said, "Out of the 14 people on board, five people have died and the situation of two others is critical. Rescue operation is underway." 

The last major aircrash involving a senior Army officer was in 1993 when GOC-in-C Eastern Command Lt Gen Jameel Mehmood died in an IAF MI-17 helicopter crash in Bhutan. His wife and MA were among the 8 people who died.

The Mi series choppers are the workhorse of the Indian Air Force and are used in high-altitude operations. They are also used to ferry VIPs, including the Prime Minister.

Union I&B Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said information about the helicopter accident in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu will be shared by the ministry concerned at an appropriate time. 

“The entire information about the accident that has taken place will be shared by the concerned ministry at an appropriate time,” Thakur told reporters when asked about the helicopter crash involving Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat.

(This is a developing copy. Please check back for updates)