An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter chopper crashes in Tamil Nadu. Senior officials were on board

The IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter was airborne from Sulur for Wellington.

Image General Bipin Rawat @Twitter- Bipin Rawat

14 people were on-board the military chopper that crashed between Coimbatore & Sulur in Tamil Nadu. They included CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Brig LS Lidder, Lt Col Harjinder Singh, NK Gursewak Singh, NK Jitendra Kr, L/Naik Vivek Kumar, L/Naik B Sai Teja & Hav Satpal

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to move Coimbatore from Chennai Airport today evening and then move to Nilgiris, following the incident of military chopper crash between Coimbatore and Sulur.

Government is likely to issue a statement tomorrow in Parliament on the crash of the military chopper with Chief of Defence Staff on board

13 of the 14 personnel involved in the military chopper crash in Tamil Nadu have been confirmed dead. Identities of the bodies to be confirmed through DNA testing: Sources

Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan was a pilot of the Mi-17V5 which crashed with 14 personnel on board including CDS Gen Bipin Rawat. He is the Commanding Officer of the 109 Helicopter Unit.

Group Captain Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington, Indian Air Force says.

Indian Air Force’s Group Captain Varun Singh

Indian Air Force’s Group Captain Varun Singh, injured in a military chopper crash, was awarded Shaurya Chakra on this year’s Independence Day for saving his LCA Tejas fighter aircraft during an aerial emergency in 2020.

Army Chief General MM Naravane briefs Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over the incident of the crash of a military chopper in Tamil Nadu, that was also carrying CDS Gen Bipin Rawat.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai: Saddened to hear that the IAF chopper carrying CDS General Bipin Rawat crashed. I am trying to gather more information on the incident. As per preliminary information, he has been taken to the hospital for treatment.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expresses anguish over the demise of first Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others in the IAF chopper crash, earlier today in Tamil Nadu

Home Minister Amit Shah extends condolences on the demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat and 12 others in the IAF chopper crash

CDS was one of the bravest soldiers, who has served the motherland with utmost devotion. His exemplary contributions & commitment can't be put into words

President Ram Nath Kovind extends condolences on the demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat,

The nation has lost one of its bravest sons

Prime Minister Modi tweets

I am deeply anguished by the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in which we have lost Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and other personnel of the Armed Forces. They served India with utmost diligence. My thoughts are with the bereaved families

Gen Bipin Rawat was an outstanding soldier. A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernising our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptional. His passing away has saddened me deeply. Om Shanti.

Indian Army-

General MM Naravane & all ranks of the Indian Army express their deepest grief and sorrow over the untimely demise of General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, President DWWA & 11 other military personnel in an unfortunate air accident today.

Gen. Bipin Rawat, India's first CDS, was a visionary who initiated far-reaching reforms in the Indian military's higher defence org. He was instrumental in creating the foundation of India's joint theatre commands&giving impetus to increased indigenisation of military equipment.

Source: ANI