Military helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff, eight others on board crashes

Indian Air Force on Wednesday confirmed that there was an accident with an Indian military helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat aboard.

Earlier, the media had reported that the helicopter crashed, and a search and rescue operation had been launched.

Nine people were on board the copper and three were rescued, according to the India Today news agency.

“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,’’ the air force tweeted.