Six member of the Indian Air Force and a civilian lost their lives due to the crash of an IAF Mi-17 chopper in Budgam of Jammu and Kashmir province, a senior police official said, as quoted by NDTV.
IAF: Today, one Mi-17 V5 helicopter got airborne from Srinagar airfield at 1000 hrs for a routine mission. It crashed around 1010 hrs near Budgam, J&K. All six air warriors on board helicopter, suffered fatal injuries. A court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate accident. pic.twitter.com/LXFKsfrBdK
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
The Mi-17 transport chopper ‘crash’ was the result of a considered ‘technical failure’ in the system. However, investigations are ordered in the accident.
The aircraft that crashed in Jammu & Kashmir's Budgam was IAF's Mi-17 transport chopper. https://t.co/mnyLB3G7gd
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
SSP Budgam on military aircraft crash: IAF's technical team will arrive and ascertain facts. Till now, we have found two bodies. pic.twitter.com/vk8K5c3Cbn
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
However, the Budgam air crash site’s image is constantly being used by considerably ‘malicious’ and ‘provoking’ media groups belonging to the neighbouring country of Pakistan, in a vague and hollow attempt of telling that this crash is the result of Pakistan Air Force’s attack on IAF.
Moreover, several media outlets in Pakistan are using pictures of previous IAF planes that crashed in the past, in various parts of India, in various years.
Pakistan hits back, shoots down 2 Indian Air Force Fighter jets in Budgam district in Occupied Kashmir #PakistanHitsBack #Pakistan #PakistanAirForce #India #IAFJets #OccupiedKashmir @OfficialDGISPR @ImranKhanPTI @SMQureshiPTI @narendramodi @ForeignOfficePk @IndiaToday @CNN @UN pic.twitter.com/b1coL4XGZc
— Capital TV (@CTV_Digital) February 27, 2019
This ‘crash’ took place in a heated up and ‘contradictory’ situation when Pakistan Air Force intruded in Indian Air space on Wednesday morning, which resulted in the loss of one of AIF MiG 21 aircraft, along with one soldier of IAF namely Wing Commander Abhinandan being apprehended by Pakistan Military.
As, during the action to retaliate against Pakistan’s intrusion in our Air space, one of Pakistan’s F-16 aircraft is shot down and IAF suffered the loss of a MiG 21. The MiG 21 of IAF fell on the grounds of Pakistan administered Kashmir, resulting in Wing Commander Abhinandan’s apprehension by Pakistan Military. The PAF F-16 was also seen falling in the Pakistan territory, by the ground forces.
MEA, confirmed the situation.
#WATCH Raveesh Kumar, MEA: One Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by Indian Air Force. In this engagement, we have lost one MiG 21. Pilot is missing in action. Pakistan claims he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts. pic.twitter.com/Bm0nVChuzF
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
However, Pakistan’s Military Chief General A.Ghafoor, in a statement took the responsibility of IAF pilot’s apprehension but in another statement he also denied about their involvement in the Chopper crash in Budgam, almost during the same period.
DG ISPR, Pakistan, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor: There are reports of crash of an Indian aircraft on the Indian side (in Budgam), we had no engagement with that aircraft. pic.twitter.com/pWDYwVfoFR
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
Major General A Ghafoor, DG ISPR, Pak Army: In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down 2 Indian aircraft inside Pak airspace. 1 aircraft fell inside AJ&K, other fell inside IOK. 1 Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground,2 in area pic.twitter.com/drXPdWXYfh
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019