HungHay8926976 at 12:26, 25 February 2026

2026-02-25T12:26:33Z

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{{Short description|Helicopter crash in India with 14 fatalities}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| name = 2021 Indian Air Force Mi-17 crash
| image = Indian Mil Mi-17 V5.jpg
| image_upright = 1.15
| caption = An Indian Mil Mi-17V-5, similar to the one involved
| date = {{start date|df=y|2021|12|08}}
| summary = [[Controlled flight into terrain]], due to weather-related [[spatial disorientation]]<ref name="disorientation">{{cite news |author= |date=15 January 2022 |title=Pilot disorientation due to weather change led to CDS chopper crash: Court of Inquiry|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pilot-disorientation-weather-change-cds-chopper-crash-court-inquiry-7723284/ |work=The Indian Express |location= |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="CDS_chopper">{{cite news |last=Banerjee |first=Ajay |date=9 December 2021 |title=CDS chopper crash: No distress call, ATC contacted to confirm landing in 7 minutes |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/no-distress-call-atc-contacted-to-confirm-landing-in-7-minutes-348377 |work=The Tribune |location= |access-date=10 December 2021}}</ref>
| occurrence_type = Accident
| site = Nanjappachatiram, [[Bandishola]] panchayat, [[Coonoor]] taluk, [[Nilgiris district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| coordinates = {{Coord|11|19|57|N|76|48|28|E|display=inline,title}}
| origin = [[Sulur Air Force Station]], Tamil Nadu, India
| destination = [[Defence Services Staff College]], [[Wellington Cantonment|Wellington]], Tamil Nadu, India
| occupants = 14<ref name=cds>{{Cite web|date=8 December 2021|title=Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, wife among 13 killed in chopper crash|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/army-chopper-crashes-in-tamil-nadu-bipin-rawat-was-reportedly-on-board/articleshow/88161974.cms |access-date=8 December 2021|website=[[The Economic Times]]|language=en}}</ref>
| passengers = 10
| crew = 4
| fatalities = 14
| survivors = 0
| missing =
| aircraft_type = [[Mi-17|Mil Mi-17V-5]]
| operator = {{Air force|IND}}
| tail_number = ZP 5164
}}
On 8 December 2021, a [[Mil Mi-17|Mil Mi-17V-5]] transport helicopter operated by the [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF) crashed between [[Coimbatore]] and [[Wellington Cantonment|Wellington]] in the state of [[Tamil Nadu]] after departing from [[Sulur Air Force Station]]. The helicopter was carrying [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]] [[General (India)|General]] [[Bipin Rawat]] and 13 others, including his wife and staff. Everyone on board was killed in the immediate aftermath, except [[Group captain (India)|Group Captain]] Varun Singh, who died from his injuries at a hospital a week later.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Group Captain Varun Singh, Injured In Chopper Crash, Dies In Hospital|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/helicopter-crash-group-captain-varun-singh-dies-of-injuries-in-hospital-2652184|access-date=15 December 2021|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

== Background ==

=== Aircraft ===
The Russian-built<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=India: Military chief, 12 others die in helicopter crash|url=https://www.dw.com/en/india-military-chief-12-others-die-in-helicopter-crash/a-60053608|url-status=live|access-date=8 December 2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208132524/https://www.dw.com/en/india-military-chief-12-others-die-in-helicopter-crash/a-60053608 |archive-date=8 December 2021 }}</ref> [[Mil Mi-17]] medium-lift helicopter was one of the first batch of 80 of its type built for the IAF under the terms of a 2008 contract.<ref>{{cite news |last= Chhina |first=Man Aman Singh |date=9 December 2021 |title=Explained: The helicopter CDS Bipin Rawat was in |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cds-bipin-rawat-mi-17-v5-helicopter-crash-7663146/ |work=The Indian Express |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> Delivered to the IAF in 2011 and inducted into service in 2012,<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=8 December 2021 |title=CDS Rawat chopper crash: Mi17V5 is advanced transport helicopter with IAF since 2012 |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/cds-rawat-chopper-crash-mi17v5-is-advanced-transport-helicopter-with-iaf-since-2012-347918 |work=The Tribune |location= |access-date=10 December 2021}}</ref> the helicopter had flown over 26 hours without incident since its most recent servicing.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mukul |first1=Pranav|last2= Chhina |first2=Man Aman Singh |date=9 December 2021 |title=Advanced and robust chopper; weather could have been crash factor |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cds-bipin-rawat-mi-17-v5-helicopter-crash-7663146/ |work=The Indian Express |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref>

=== Crew ===
[[Wing commander|Wing Commander]] Prithvi Singh Chauhan, the commanding officer of [[No. 109 Helicopter Unit, IAF|109 Helicopter Unit]], was the [[pilot in command]],<ref name="TNIE_chopper_crash" /> with co-pilot [[Squadron leader|Squadron Leader]] Kuldeep Singh and two junior warrant officers comprising the rest of the crew.<ref name="CDS_India_Today">{{cite news |author= |date=8 December 2021 |title=India's top military officer, CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, dies in Tamil Nadu helicopter crash|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cds-gen-bipin-rawat-no-more-dead-iaf-helicopter-crash-tamil-nadu-coonoor-1885554-2021-12-08 |work=India Today |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref>

== Accident ==
The passengers had boarded the flight around 11:45 a.m. local time ([[Indian Standard Time|IST]]). At 11:48 a.m. local time, the helicopter took off with ten passengers and four crew members from [[Sulur Air Force Station]], headed roughly {{convert|80|km|abbr=on}} to the [[Defence Services Staff College]] (DSSC) in Wellington, Tamil Nadu.<ref name="Rajnath Parliament" /><ref name="TNIE_chopper_crash">{{cite news |first1=M. |last1=Saravanan|last2=Sundar|first2=P. S. |date=8 December 2021 |title=First Chief of Defence Bipin Rawat, 12 others killed in chopper crash in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/dec/08/first-chief-of-defence-bipin-rawat-12-others-killed-in-chopper-crash-in-tamil-nadus-coonoor-2393293.html |work=The New Indian Express |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> General Rawat, his wife, and his staff were traveling to the DSSC, where Rawat was to address the college's faculty and student officers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Rahul |title=General Rawat, his wife and 11 others killed in IAF chopper crash |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/general-rawat-his-wife-and-11-others-killed-in-iaf-chopper-crash-101638969201110.html |access-date=9 December 2021 |agency=Hindustan Times |ref=Hindustan_Times_singh}}</ref> The flight was scheduled to arrive at Wellington by 12:15 p.m. Shortly before losing contact with the Sulur Air force base at 12:08 p.m.,<ref name="Rajnath Parliament" /> the pilots had radioed air traffic control to confirm their imminent landing at the Wellington [[helipad]].<ref name="CDS_chopper" /> The aircraft then crashed near a residential colony of private tea estate employees on the outskirts of the hamlet of Nanjappachatiram, [[Bandishola]] panchayat, in the Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area of [[Coonoor]] taluk, [[Nilgiris district]].<ref name="TNIE_chopper_crash" /><ref>{{cite news |first=M. |last=Saravanan|date=8 December 2021 |title=Coonoor helicopter mishap: 'One of the injured men asked for water', recount eyewitnesses |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/dec/08/coonoor-helicopter-mishap-one-of-the-injured-men-asked-for-water-recount-eyewitnesses-2393307.html|work=The New Indian Express |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="Sulur_tragedy">{{cite news |last=Saravanan |first=M.|date=8 December 2021 |title=Sulur chopper tragedy: 'Never seen anything this tragic', say Coonoor fire and rescue personnel |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/dec/08/sulur-chopper-tragedy-never-seen-anything-this-tragic-say-coonoor-fire-and-rescue-personnel-2393297.html|work=The New Indian Express |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> The crash site was {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} from the flight's intended destination.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Madhav|first=Pramod |date=8 December 2021|title=CDS General Bipin Rawat's chopper crashes in Tamil Nadu|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/army-chopper-crash-tamil-nadu-coonoor-1885464-2021-12-08|access-date=8 December 2021|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref name=cds2>{{Cite web|date=8 December 2021|title=IAF copter goes down: From crash location to where Gen Bipin Rawat was heading, here's what we know|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/iaf-copter-goes-down-from-crash-location-to-where-gen-bipin-rawat-was-heading-heres-what-we-know-10195471.html|access-date=8 December 2021|website=[[Firstpost]]|language=en}}</ref>

According to an eyewitness, he saw "the helicopter coming down... it hit one tree and was on fire. There were plumes of smoke" when he ran over. "In minutes, the fire was higher" than his house.<ref>{{Cite web|author=News9 Staff|date=8 December 2021|title=CDS Bipin Rawat's death: 'Chopper was flying low and hit trees,' say eyewitnesses|url=https://www.news9live.com/india/chopper-was-flying-low-and-hit-trees-eyewitnesses-recall-chopper-crash-that-killed-cds-bipin-rawat-139200|access-date=10 December 2021|website=NEWS9LIVE|language=en|archive-date=10 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210090350/https://www.news9live.com/india/chopper-was-flying-low-and-hit-trees-eyewitnesses-recall-chopper-crash-that-killed-cds-bipin-rawat-139200|url-status=dead}}</ref> Villagers threw water over the fire in an attempt to put it out.<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 December 2021|title=Bipin Rawat: India's top general dies in helicopter crash|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59576082|access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> Initial reports of the crash emerged around 12:20 p.m., with a search-and-rescue operation launched at 12:25 p.m. The IAF officially confirmed General Rawat's presence on the flight in a tweet sent at 1:53 p.m.<ref name="timeline_India_Today">{{cite news |author= |date=8 December 2021 |title=CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, wife, 11 others die in IAF chopper crash: Timeline of events|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tamil-nadu-coonoor-iaf-chopper-crash-gen-bipin-rawat-dead-timeline-1885625-2021-12-08 |work=India Today |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> Rescue operations continued until 3:25 p.m.<ref name="TNIE_chopper_crash" /> Fire and Rescue Services personnel who managed to reach the crash site after some difficulty, as the site was 500 meters from a major road, reported the crash victims had been burnt beyond recognition.<ref name="Sulur_tragedy" />

== Casualties ==
[[File:General Bipin Rawat, India's 1st Chief of Defence Staff.jpg|thumbnail|upright|alt=India's first Chief of Defence Staff General [[Bipin Rawat]] died in the crash.|India's first [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]] General [[Bipin Rawat]] died in the crash.]]

The ten passengers on board the flight included [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]] [[General (India)|General]] [[Bipin Rawat]], his wife Madhulika Rawat, liaison officer [[Group captain (India)|Group Captain]] Varun Singh, SC and the general's personal staff, including his defense assistant [[Brigadier (India)|Brigadier]] [[Lakhbinder Singh Lidder]], [[Lieutenant Colonel]] Harjinder Singh, [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] Prithvi Singh Chauhan, [[Squadron Leader]] Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, [[Lance naik|Lance Naik]] Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B. Sai Teja, [[Havildar]] Satpal Rai, [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] Gursewak Singh and Naik Jitendra Kumar.<ref>{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Rahul |date=8 December 2021 |title=General Rawat, his wife and 11 others killed in IAF chopper crash |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/general-rawat-his-wife-and-11-others-killed-in-iaf-chopper-crash-101638969201110.html |work=The Hindustan Times |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> Following the crash, the IAF released statements at 6:03 p.m. confirming the death of 13 of the 14 people on board, including General Rawat and his wife.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Indian Air Force |author-link= Indian Air Force |user=IAF_MCC |number=1468559355868028936|title=With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident.}}</ref><ref name="brmil">{{Cite web|date=8 December 2021|access-date =8 December 2021|title=CDS chopper crash: 13 of 14 personnel on-board confirmed dead|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/cds-chopper-crash-13-of-14-personnel-on-board-confirmed-dead20211208175410/|website=[[ANI News]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chopper Crash: IAF confirms the death of CDS Bipin Rawat, wife and 11 others |url=https://theprobe.in/iaf-confirms-the-death-of-cds-bipin-rawat-wife-and-11-others// |website=The Probe|access-date=10 December 2021}}</ref> As of 9:30 p.m. local time, all 13 of the bodies had been recovered from the crash site.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Indian Air Force |author-link= Indian Air Force |user=IAF_MCC |number=1468496444063576065|title=An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.}}</ref>

An instructor at the DSSC, Group Captain Varun Singh, was the initial survivor of the crash, and was taken to the military hospital in [[Wellington Cantonment|Wellington]], Tamil Nadu, for surgery.<ref name="Sole_Survivor_India_Today">{{cite news |last=Noronha |first=Rehul |date=8 December 2021 |title=Sole survivor of IAF chopper crash has family serving in all three services of armed forces|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tamil-nadu-coonor-iaf-chopper-crash-group-captain-varun-singh-family-armed-forces-1885696-2021-12-08|work=India Today |location= |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Indian Air Force |author-link= Indian Air Force |user=IAF_MCC |number=1468559358275436550|title=Gp Capt Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington.}}</ref> Having sustained burns over 45% of his body, he was transferred to the [[Command Hospital]] in Bengaluru for further treatment on [[life support]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bhalla|first=Abhishek |date=9 December 2021 |title=Chopper crash survivor Varun Singh airlifted to Bengaluru |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/group-captain-varun-singh-iaf-chopper-crash-tamil-nadu-bengaluru-treatment-1886032-2021-12-09 |work=India Today |location= |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> He died from his injuries on 15 December 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=15 December 2021 |title=Lone survivor of chopper crash, Group Captain Varun Singh succumbs to injuries |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lone-survivor-of-iaf-chopper-crash-group-captain-varun-singh-passes-away/article37959391.ece |access-date=16 December 2021 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
The [[Cabinet Committee on Security]] (CCS), headed by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]], met on the evening of the disaster to decide on a further course of action. The [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]] [[Rajnath Singh]] made a formal announcement in [[Parliament of India]] on 9 December regarding the incident.<ref name="Rajnath Parliament">{{Cite web|last=Sinha|first=Shreya|date=9 December 2021|title=Read full statement of Rajnath Singh in Parliament on IAF chopper crash|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iaf-chopper-crash-cds-bipin-rawat-death-rajnath-singh-parliament-live-updates-breaking-news-1885743-2021-12-09#181105|website=India Today}}</ref> The Opposition suspended its protests in Parliament for one day as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the crash.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sinha|first=Shreya|date=9 December 2021|title=Opposition suspends protest in Parliament for the day in tribute to CDS Gen Rawat, others|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iaf-chopper-crash-cds-bipin-rawat-death-rajnath-singh-parliament-live-updates-breaking-news-1885743-2021-12-09#181110|website=India Today}}</ref>

== Investigation ==
The [[Flight recorder|flight data recorder]] was recovered on the morning of 9 December.<ref>{{cite news|author=|date=9 December 2021|title=Black box of crashed helicopter recovered|work=The Tribune|location=|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/data-recorder-of-crashed-m-17-helicopter-recovered-348196|access-date=9 December 2021|archive-date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209035519/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/data-recorder-of-crashed-m-17-helicopter-recovered-348196|url-status=dead}}</ref> A tri-service court of inquiry was established by the [[Indian Air Force]], headed by [[Air marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] [[Manavendra Singh]], the AOC-in-C [[Training Command (India)|Training Command]].<ref>{{cite news|author=|date=9 December 2021|title=Air Marshal Manvendra Singh to head tri-service inquiry into IAF chopper crash: Rajnath Singh|work=India Today|location=|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/air-marshal-manvendra-singh-tri-service-inquiry-iaf-chopper-crash-bipin-rawat-rajnath-lok-sabha-1885829-2021-12-09|access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> Early in January 2022, anonymous defense officials attached to the team indicated that the inquiry was complete and the probable cause of the accident was [[Controlled flight into terrain|Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)]], which occurs when the pilot is in full control of the aircraft but due to faulty situational awareness the aircraft strikes the [[terrain]]. The chopper was reportedly flying at a low altitude when it entered a rolling cloud cover that drastically reduced visibility. In the process of trying to fly out of the cloud cover, it hit a cliff and crashed.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Peri|first=Dinakar|date=1 January 2022|title=Disorientation of crew in poor weather likely cause of crash|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chopper-crash-inquiry-complete-cfit-probable-cause/article38084094.ece|access-date=1 January 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Times News Network|date=6 January 2022|title=CDS crash inquiry: 'Loss of situational awareness' by pilots|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cds-crash-inquiry-loss-of-situational-awareness-by-pilots/articleshow/88721500.cms|access-date=18 January 2022}}</ref>

On 14 January 2022, the court of inquiry's preliminary findings were officially made public. It termed the accident "a result of entry into clouds due to unexpected change in weather conditions", which "led to [[spatial disorientation]] of the pilot resulting in Controlled Flight into Terrain". The court ruled out any mechanical failure, [[sabotage]] or negligence to be a cause of the accident.<ref>{{Cite web|last=[[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]|date=14 January 2022|title=PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF COI: HELICOPTER ACCIDENT ON 08 DEC 2021|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1789972|url-status=live|access-date=18 January 2022|website=[[Press Information Bureau]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114133459/https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1789972 |archive-date=14 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Scroll Staff|title=Pilot 'disorientation' caused Bipin Rawat's helicopter to crash, says inquiry panel|url=https://scroll.in/latest/1015083/bipin-rawats-chopper-crashed-as-it-entered-into-clouds-due-to-change-in-weather-says-inquiry-panel|access-date=14 January 2022|website=Scroll.in|date=14 January 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Singh|first=Rahul|date=14 January 2022|title=Pilot's disorientation in bad weather led to CDS Bipin Rawat chopper crash: IAF|work=[[The Hindustan Times]]|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pilots-disorientation-in-bad-weather-led-to-cds-bipin-rawat-chopper-crash-iaf-101642170909017.html|access-date=18 January 2022}}</ref>

In December 2024, a Standing Committee on defense report tabled in [[Lok Sabha]] stated that the Mi-17 crash, which took place on December 8, 2021, occurred because of "Human Error (Aircrew)".<ref>{{Cite web |title="Human Error" Caused Chopper Crash That Killed CDS Bipin Rawat: Panel Report |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/human-error-caused-chopper-crash-that-killed-cds-bipin-rawat-panel-report-7287739 |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-19 |title=Human error behind chopper crash that killed CDS Bipin Rawat: Report |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/human-error-behind-chopper-crash-that-killed-cds-bipin-rawat-report/articleshow/116478559.cms |access-date=2024-12-19 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (2020–present)]]
* [[Smolensk air disaster]]
* [[1986 Mozambican Tupolev Tu-134 crash]]
{{Clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 2021}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indian Air Force Mi-17 crash, 2021}}
[[Category:2021 disasters in India|Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash]]
[[Category:2020s in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Mil Mi-17]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2021]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in India|2021 Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash]]
[[Category:Coonoor]]
[[Category:December 2021 in India|Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving military helicopters]]

2021 Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash - Revision history

HungHay8926976 at 12:26, 25 February 2026