New Delhi: The Indian Air Force helicopter carrying Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 12 others that crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu was just five minutes away from its destination.
The crash took place shortly after the Russian-made Mi-17V-5 chopper took off from the Army base in Sulur in Coimbatore for the Defence Staff Services College in Wellington.
The accident is believed to happened due to low visibility owing to foggy conditions even though the IAF said a Court of Inquiry had been ordered into the incident. TV visuals showed the badly damaged chopper in flames. The helicopter fell at some distance away from a human habitation, avoiding a major tragedy.
General Bipin Rawat, 63, took charge as India's first Chief of Defence Staff in January 2019.
READ | All About The Mi-17V-5 Helicopter That Crashed With CDS Bipin Rawat Onboard
Here's A Timeline Of The Helicopter Crash:
* A special aircraft left from Delhi at around 9 am on Wednesday.
* Nine persons, including Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat, were onboard.
* The aircraft arrived at the Sulur Air Force Station at 11.35 am.
* Fourteen people, including nine persons and five crew members, departed for Defence Staff College in Wellington in the Air Force’s Mi-17V-5 helicopter at 11.45 am.
* Mi-17V-5 helicopter crashed in Nanchapa Chatharam, Katteri area, at 12.20 pm.
* The distance between Sulur Air Force Station and the accident spot is about 94 km.
* The distance between the accident spot and Defence Staff College in Wellington is about 16 km.
* Time to reach Wellington Army camp from the accident spot is just five minutes.