Budgam Mi-17 crash: IAF chief admits big mistake, says our own missile hit chopper

IAF chief Rakesh Kumar Bhadauria has admitted that the Mi-17 chopper crash on February 27 was a "big mistake" on part of the air force

Rakesh-Kumar-Bhadauria IAF-Chief Indian-Air-Force-Mistake

IAF chief Rakesh Kumar Bhadauria has admitted that the Mi-17 chopper crash on February 27 was a "big mistake" on part of the air force. The crash had left six IAF personnel dead.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said, "Court of Inquiry has completed and it was our mistake as our missile had hit our own chopper. We will take action against the two officers. We accept this was our big mistake and we will ensure such mistakes are not repeated in the future."

In the crash, the Indian Air Force lost six personnel when their chopper was hit by its own SPYDER air defense missile over Budgam.

Bhadauria also said, "Rafale and S-400 Air Defence missile system will further bolster the capability of the Indian Air Force."

Also Read: Alumni of NDA, Negotiator of Rafale. Know about the new Indian Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria

Earlier it was reported that the IAF Court of Inquiry has found five officers guilty for the crash of a helicopter over Srinagar on February 27 when India and Pakistan were engaged in a short aerial battle.

This was a day after IAF jets conducted airstrikes in Pakistan's Balakot and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps and Pakistan tried to retaliate by sending fighter jets towards the Indian side.

The fateful Mi-17 helicopter was shot down by an Indian missile when Indian air defenses were on high alert following the February 26 Balakot airstrike that targetted a terrorist camp in Pakistan. The helicopter crashed near Budgam, killing all six Indian Air Force personnel on board.


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