Chennai: The Rescue team has recovered the black box of the ill-fated helicopter that crashed yesterday, killing Chief of the Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 officials.
The helicopter crashed shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur at 11:45 am, Coimbatore. The helicopter was on its way to Wellington in Nilgiri Hills where General Rawat was to address a gathering at the Defence Services Staff College. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary, Air Force Chief visited the crash site this morning.
Also read: CDS Rawat Chopper Crash: Lone survivor Captain Varun Singh shifted to Bengaluru; maintaining vitals
The Mi-17 V5 helicopter was only minutes away from landing and was already making descent. The investigating team is suspecting pure visibility due to fog as the probable reason behind the helicopter crash.
Videos from the crash site showed wreckage scattered on a hillside and rescuers struggling through smoke and fire to locate bodies. Charred bodies were pulled out from under mangled mental and fallen trees.
Tributes continue to pour in for the General from across the country and abroad. The Prime Minister described him as an “outstanding soldier” and a “true patriot”. The Defence Minister called it an “irreparable loss” to the country and the forces.
The funeral of General Rawat and his wife will take place tomorrow. Their bodies are expected to reach Delhi by a military plane today.
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