Overview
- The Mi-17 V5 helicopter crash occurred on December 8, 2021, near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, killing India's first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 12 others.
- A recent report by the Standing Committee on Defence confirmed the crash was caused by 'Human Error (Aircrew)', specifically spatial disorientation of the pilot due to unexpected weather changes.
- The helicopter, fully serviceable and considered highly reliable, entered cloud cover shortly before crashing, leading to a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT).
- The report also highlighted 34 Indian Air Force accidents during the 2017-2022 period, with human error being a significant factor in several cases.
- Recommendations from inquiry committees aim to prevent similar incidents, with many remedial measures already implemented by the Indian Air Force.