Indian helicopter crashes; two pilots killed

New Delhi: Two pilots died after a Chhattisgarh government helicopter crashed at Raipur Airport on Thursday (May 12) night.

According to details, the incident occurred at around 9.10 pm during a flying practice at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur under Mana police station limits.

While one of them died on the spot, the other lost his life on the way to the hospital. Captain Gopal Krishna Panda and Captain A P Shrivastava lost their lives in the crash.

As per the state government, “It was on a routine training sortie. Initial indications suggest technical malfunction as the cause of crash.” 

The helicopter was completely destroyed in the accident.

A detailed investigation at the behest of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the state government will be undertaken to ascertain the exact cause.