India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, was killed in a Mi-17 helicopter crash on December 8, 2021, due to “Human Error (Air Crew),” the Indian Air Force (IAF) has confirmed. The revelation was part of a report presented in Parliament on Tuesday by the Standing Committee on Defence, which also detailed data on Indian Air Force aircraft crashes during the 13th Defence Plan period.
General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 12 armed forces personnel tragically lost their lives when the military helicopter they were travelling in crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
The report included tabulated data specifying the reasons for crashes across different aircraft types, dates, and incidents. It highlighted a total of 34 IAF aircraft crashes during the period, with nine accidents occurring in 2021-22 and 11 in 2018-19.
The crash involving the Mi-17 helicopter carrying General Rawat was listed as the 33rd accident in the report. The entry cited the date, “08.12.2021,” and the cause as “HE(A)” or “Human Error (Aircrew).”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) informed the Committee that inquiries were conducted into all 34 accidents during the period.
“The recommendations of these inquiry committees comprehensively review processes, procedures, training, equipment, operational culture, maintenance, and administration, with the aim of preventing such accidents in the future,” the report stated.
This disclosure underscores the critical need for continued improvements in operational safety and training to mitigate human error in the armed forces.
Team BharatShakti
