Mi-17 Chopper Crash: 2 IAF Officers To Face Court Martial, Action To Be Taken Against 4 Others

Two Indian Air Force (IAF) officers among six officials, found guilty for the crash of a helicopter over Srinagar on February 27 when India and Pakistan were engaged in a short aerial battle, will face administrative action, news agency ANI reported.

While two officers will face court martial, administrative action will be taken against four other officers, ANI quoted sources as saying. 

Defence sources: Six Indian Air Force officers to face action for their roles in the Mi-17 chopper crash which was hit by own missile on February 27 over Srinagar. Two officers to face court martial while four others to face administrative action in the case. pic.twitter.com/QCZXwrKuNl

— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2019

Earlier this month, IAF chief Rakesh Kumar Bhadauria 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.

"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," Bhadauria had said.

In the crash, the Indian Air Force lost six personnel when their chopper was hit by its own SPYDER air defence missile over Budgam.A day before February 27, 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 helicopter was shot down by an Indian missile when Indian air defences were on high alert following the February 26 Balakot airstrike that targetted a terrorist camp in Pakistan. The helicopter crashed near Budgam.