Mi-17 Helicopter Crash: Two IAF Officers To Face Court Martial, Administrative Action Against Four Others

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to initiate court-martial proceedings against two of its officers, a Group Captain and a Wing Commander, for the crash of the IAF’s Mi-17 chopper on 27 February in the airspace over Srinagar, reports Asian News International (ANI).

Besides, four other officers including two Air Commodores and two Flight Lieutenants will also face administrative action for their respective roles in the case.

"Two officers including a Group Captain and a Wing Commander would be tried by a court-martial for their lapses in the case due to which six IAF personnel were killed in friendly fire," defence sources were quoted in the report as saying.

As per the report, on the morning of 27 February, an IAF Mi-17 chopper crashed over Budgam near Srinagar killing all six of its occupants. It was later found out that the Chopper was hit by own air defence system Spyder deployed in Srinagar.

The helicopter was being flown by squadron leader Siddharth Vashisht with other members including squadron leader Ninad Mandvgane, Kumar Pandey, sergeant Vikrant Sehrawat, corporals Deepak Pandey and Pankaj Kumar.