5 IAF men killed in copter crash
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Bangalore, March 21: Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed when a MI-8 IAF helicopter crashed near Chikkajala in Bangalore rural district this evening.

The trainee chopper crashed shortly after taking off from the Yelahanka air base on city's outskirts and all the bodies were charred beyond recognition, Bangalore rural district superintendent of police S Ramakrishna told PTI.

Apart from the pilot, Sqn Ldr A K Singh and co-pilot Ft Lt Heblekar, the other victims were warrant officer Chavan, flight engineer, and trainee flight engineers Reddy and Mishra, he said.

The helicopter was reduced to smithereens. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, he said.

Karnataka additional director general of police (law and order) M D Singh said the helicopter crashed near Narayanapur railway tracks.

Top police and district officials rushed to the crash site along with senior IAF officers.

Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.