Indian Air Force’s Mi-17 transport chopper crashes in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam

A Mi-17 transport chopper of the Indian Air Force crashed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam area on Wednesday morning. Earlier reports had said that the crash involved a Mig-21 fighter jet. Latest reports say that Srinagar Airport has been shut down. Many flights have been diverted. Initial probe points to technical glitch in the aircraft. The chopper, which took off from the Srinagar runway, crashed into an open field in Budgam area. News Nation has learnt that local villagers tried to save the pilots. There are reports that the pilot of the Mi-17 jet died in the crash. The Indian Air Force has still not confirmed death. Jammu and Kashmir Police and Indian Air Force personnel have rushed to the spot.

The incident comes a day after the IAF’s successful counter-terror air strike in Pakistan’s Balakot area in which Jaish-e-Mohammed’s major terror camp was completely destroyed.

Since the air strike, the Line of Control has witnessed heavy firing from Pakistani side. In powerful retaliation, Indian forces bombed five forward posts across the LoC. The February 14 attack in Pulwama that claimed lives of 40 CRPF personnel has sparked the most tense episode in Indo-Pak bilateral ties. The February 26 air strike has just added to the issue. The flare-up between two nuclear powers is being watched closely by the world powers.