NEW DELHI – Among the threads being investigated in the February 27 crashof an IAF Mi-17 helicopter near Srinagar during a tense standoff withPakistan include the possibility that it may have been “accidentally” shotdown by Indian Air Defence System, officials said.
The officials, who are familiar with the investigation and spoke oncondition of anonymity, believe that the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicoptermay not have switched on the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systemwhich identifies the flying object to radars, whether it is a an enemy orone of its own. The IFF technology developed during World War II is aninstrument within the aircraft or a helicopter which sends signals tonearby radars giving its identification signatures.
The IAF refused to comment on speculation that the helicopter, whichcrashed in Kashmir region killing all six personnel on board, may have beenshot down by the air defence system which was on the highest alert afterIndian air strikes at Balakot in Pakistan on February 26.
An IAF spokesperson would only say, “In any flying accident the Court ofInquiry looks into all possibilities before conclusively establishing thecause of an accident. In the instant case also, the ongoing Court ofInquiry is looking into every possibility that could have caused theaccident.
Before the court submits it’s report it will be premature to comment.” Thehelicopter was flown by Sqdn Leader Siddharth Vashisht with other membersSqdn Ldr Ninad Mandvgane, Kumar Pandey, Sergeant Vikrant Sehrawat,Corporals Deepak Pandey and Pankaj Kumar. It crashed at Budgam after takingoff from Srinagar airport at 10:10 am, soon after Pakistani Air Force jetshad attempted to violate the Indian airspace at around 9.30 am on February27.
The Pakistani Air Force, intruding in Rajouri sector of Jammu region onFebruary 27 Baramulla around the same time when the helicopter was airbornefrom Srinagar airfield.
The he air defence system is believed to have fired at the helicopter bythen, killing all the personnel and a civilian on the ground, officialssaid.
If this line of inquiry is pursued, the investigators will also try to findout whether the pilot inadvertently did not switch on the IFF or whetherthe instrument malfunctioned, they said.