Air Force chopper crashes; crew bailed out near Suratgarh

An Air Force helicopter on a routine exercise crashed with a three member crew bailing out safely in Suratgarh city of Sriganganagar district, a Defence spokesman said today.

IAF helicopter MI 35 met with the crash around 2030 hrs last night and three members of the crew escaped and bailed out safely, the Defence PRO said.

A Court of Inquiry was ordered by the IAF, he said, adding that the reason behind the crash and the names of crew members were not disclosed yet.

An army exercise on the ground was underway in the western sector when the mishap took place, he said.