Four Indian air force personnel among five killed in IoK helicopter crash

Mi-17 chopper was crashed in an open field near Garend Kalaan village in Budgam

News Desk February 27, 2019

Mi-17 chopper was crashed in an open field near Garend Kalaan village in Budgam. TOI SCREENGRAB

Five people including four Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed in a helicopter crash in Budgam district of occupied Kashmir, the same day when two Indian fighter jets were downed by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday.

The chopper was crashed in an open field near Garend Kalaan village in Budgam at around 10am, the Indian officials were quoted by The Times of India as saying. “One of the deceased has been identified as Kifayat Hussain Ganaie, a local resident, while the identity of the other four, who are believed to be IAF personnel, is being ascertained,” they added.

The crashed helicopter was a Russian Mi-17, said the officials in Srinagar, who had earlier described it a fighter jet. They said the chopper broke into two and caught fire immediately.

Did not want to retaliate at the cost of regional peace: DG ISPR

Earlier in the day, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Major General Asif Ghafoor had also mentioned the incident in a news conference called after Pakistan Air Force (PAF) struck Indian targets in occupied Kashmir downing two IAF fighter jets from within friendly airspace as the country’s armed forces struck back following unprovoked Indian aggression a day earlier.

The Pakistani forces also managed to capture IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman after MIG-21 fighter jet was downed by the PAF warplanes. The captured pilot has lauded the Pakistani military for the commendable treatment and rescuing him from a mob after the crash.

Captured Indian pilot praises Pakistan Army for saving him from mob

The captured Indian pilot can be heard praising the Pakistani military officials, calling them “thorough gentlemen” in a new video being shared on social media.

In his media talk today, the chief military spokesperson also asserted that Pakistan did not want to retaliate at the cost of regional peace but the country had no option but to respond after India’s air incursion a day earlier.

“The Pakistan army and air force had no option but to respond after India’s air incursion.”