New Delhi: Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar SinghBhadauria, on Friday, for the first time, officially admitted that anIndian Air Force missile had shot down its own Mi-17 helicopter in Kashmiron February 27, calling it a “big mistake.”
Earlier media reports that the IAF’s air defence missile had shot down anMi-17 helicopter in Budgam in the Kashmir Valley minutes after Pakistan AirForce fighter aircraft had entered Indian air space on February 27 weremostly based on state sources.
The incident had resulted in the death of seven people, including six IAFpersonnel on board and a civilian on the ground.
“This was a mistake, a big mistake. We admit that,” said Air ChiefBhadauria about the incident. He said that the court of inquiry on theincident has recently been completed. “The helicopter was hit by our ownmissile. This has been established,” said the Air Chief.
He said that the IAF has taken administrative action against two officersand disciplinary action will also be taken in the future following dueprocess. Air Chief Bhadauria said that those who were killed on the copterwill be treated as battle casualties and awards will be given to theirfamilies. “Necessary steps have been taken so that these things are notrepeated,” said Air Chief Bhadauria.
The helicopter was hit by the missile when it was approaching the airbaseand was in contact with the air traffic control (ATC).
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had entered Indian air space near Nowshera tobomb military installations in retaliation to an airstrike carried out bythe IAF at terror camps in Balakot.
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According to sources, the investigation report said that the Identificationof Friend or Foe (IFF) system on-board the helicopter was switched off andthere was a “vital gap” in communication and co-ordination between theground staff and the crew on the chopper.
Despite being in touch with the ATC, it was hit by missiles as the weaponoperators thought it was an unmanned aircraft.
The IFF helps air defence radar identify whether an aircraft or helicopteris friendly or hostile.
The Mi-17 V-5 chopper had crashed within 10 minutes of taking off, asPakistan Air Force and IAF aircraft were involved in a dog fight.
