On 19 April 2011, a Mil Mi-17 helicopter operated by Pawan Hans crashed near the town of Tawang, India, killing 17 of 23 people on board.[1][2][3][4]
.jpg) A Mi-17 of Pawan Hans similar to the one involved | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 April 2011 |
| Summary | Helipad undershoot and subsequent main rotor breaking. |
| Site | Near Tawang, India |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Mil Mi-17 |
| Operator | Pawan Hans |
| Registration | VT-PHF |
| Flight origin | Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Borjhar, India |
| Destination | Tawang, India |
| Occupants | 23 |
| Passengers | 18 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 17 |
| Survivors | 6 |
Accident
editThe helicopter had taken off at 12:45 pm from Borjhar Airport in Assam on an internal flight to the town of Tawang, in Tawang district, India. On board were 18 passengers and 5 crew. At around 13:50 pm, the helicopter arrived at destination, but while attempting to land at Tawang Civil helipad, which is located on top of a hill, the Mi-17 crashed into a gorge and caught fire.[5]
Aircraft
editThe aircraft involved, a Mil Mi-17, registered VT-PHF, was also involved in a previous emergency landing in the same region.[6]
Casualties
editSeventeen of the 23 on board were killed, including three crew members. Out of the 17, two were minors. Two passengers survived the crash initially, but later died due to injuries from the post-crash fire.[7]
Investigation
editAn official in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that as per initial reports the helicopter crash-landed "due to likely wind shear and downdraft while landing and caught fire on impact to the ground".[5]
References
edit- ^ "Pawan Hans chopper crashes in Arunachal, 17 dead". The Times of India. 19 April 2011. Archived from the original on 23 April 2011.
- ^ "India Today: India News, Latest India News, Breaking News India, News in India, World, Business, Cricket, Sports, Bollywood News India : India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Helicopter crash kills 17 in Arunachal – Rediff.com India News". Rediff.com. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Chopper crash kills 17 in Arunachal, 6 including pilot survive". Deccan Herald. India. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Chopper crash kills 17 in Arunachal Pradesh, 6 including pilot survive – India – DNA". Dnaindia.com. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "11-Dec-10 VT-PHF Mil MI-172 Assam, India | Helihub – the Helicopter Industry Data Source". Helihub. 11 December 2010. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Pawans Hans helicopter crashes in Arunachal Pradesh, 17 dead". 19 April 2011.