New Delhi: Hours after a devastating Army helicopter crash, that was carrying 14 officers including Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat, the Indian Air Force confirmed his death on Wednesday.
Bipin Rawat, 63, along with his wife Madhulika Rawat and 12 others including IAF pilots were inside the chopper that crashed, killing 13 of them. But, this was not Rawat's first crash.
Six years ago on February 3, 2015, the then Lieutinent General, Rawat along with three army personnel, was in a Cheetah helicopter that crashed just seconds after taking off from Rabgapahar helipad in Nagaland. However he surived the crash with minor injuries.
Also read | Bipin Rawat Death LIVE: CDS Rawat, Wife Madhulika, 11 Others Die In Helicopter Crash, IAF Confirms
According to reports, within seconds of taking off, the engine stalled at a height of 20 feet, as the chopper crashed leaving the personnel on board with minor injuries.
How did the helicopter crash on Wednesday?
Meanwhile, on Wednesday Rawat was on board a Russian made Mi-17V5 helicopter, that took off from the army base in Sulur. The crash happened in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district shortly after take off.
An eye witness to the incident told ABP Nadu that the chopper crashed into trees and bursted into flames setting people in it ablaze. Telivision images showed that the crashed chopper was engulfed in fire as the residents tries to set the flames off. One of the eye witnesses said that initially there was a huge sound and when he went to see, he could witness a helicopter burning in flames. He further said that he has seen charred bodies of passengers.