On Saturday morning, an Indian Air Force MI-17 helicopter crashed near Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand while transporting another helicopter for repairs.
The incident occurred as the MI-17 was carrying a helicopter operated by Crystal Aviation Company to the Gauchar airstrip.
The MI-17 was tasked with lifting and transporting the Crystal Aviation helicopter, which had previously been forced to make an emergency landing near Kedarnath on 24 May 2024, due to technical issues.
On Saturday, while en route, the MI-17 began experiencing balance problems, exacerbated by the weight of the suspended helicopter and adverse wind conditions.
Realizing the imminent danger, the MI-17 pilot decided to release the suspended helicopter into an empty valley to avoid a more catastrophic crash.
The helicopter subsequently fell near the Mandakini River in Lincholi.
The camera captured the crash, showing the helicopter plummeting to the ground.
District tourism official Rahul Chaubey confirmed that there were no passengers or cargo on board the helicopter at the time of the accident.
The MI-17 had taken off around 7 AM, and the accident happened as it approached the Tharu Camp area.
“The mission was to transport the Crystal Aviation helicopter for repairs. Unfortunately, as we neared Tharu Camp, the MI-17 lost its balance due to the heavy load and wind conditions. The pilot made the critical decision to release the helicopter to mitigate further risk,” Chaubey explained.
Emergency rescue teams arrived swiftly at the crash site and are currently working to assess the damage and recover any remains.
An investigation into the incident is underway to determine the exact causes of the crash and to evaluate any potential contributing factors.
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