NEW DELHI: India's Air Force chief has finally admitted that its Mi-17 chopper, which crashed near Srinagar on February 27 this year, came down after its own missile mistakenly hit it.
"Court of Inquiry completed and it was our mistake as our missile had hit our own chopper," Indian Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria told the ANI news agency on Friday.
Investigators had earlier found that the Indian air defence missile was fired shortly before the crash of the Mi-17 V5 helicopter in Budgam near Srinagar. But the Indian Air Force had yet to accept its own fault.
"We will take action against two officers. We accept this was our big mistake and we will ensure such mistakes are not repeated in future," Bhadauria said.
At least seven people, including six security forces personnel, reportedly died when the helicopter crashed in the Indian occupied Kashmir region on February 27.
The incident had taken place during a period of heightened India-Pakistan tensions, the same day that the Pakistan Air Force shot down an Indian aircraft when it intruded into Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan later handed over the arrested Indian air force pilot as a goodwill gesture.
Attacker identified as 50-year-old male doctor from Saudi Arabia who holds permanent residency in Germany
Jagmeet Singh’s NDP has been pivotal in sustaining PM Trudeau’s govt in recent years since last elections
"Macron resign," "you're talking nonsense," "water, water, water", young people and mothers shout at president
Since May 2023, some 260 people have been killed in and more than 60,000 displaced
Yoon has been stripped of his duties by parliament following his short-lived martial law declaration
Public health activities can suffer as more than half of agency's workers to be furloughed
