Parliamentary Report Confirms Human Error Caused 2021 Chopper Crash That Killed CDS Bipin Rawat

The crash, which claimed 14 lives including General Rawat and his wife, was attributed to pilot disorientation in adverse weather conditions.

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.