Guwahati:
All army personnel in the helicopter that crashed Friday in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh are dead, sources confirmed after the fifth body was reportedly located today.
Air traffic control (ATC) had received a “May day” call just before the crash, suggesting a technical or mechanical failure, the military said, adding that the weather was clear and the pilots were experienced. However, the terrain is “extremely challenging” in terms of steep-sided hills and dense jungle, the military said in a statement.
“May Day” call refers to a distress signal given to an aircrew to the ATC or ground staff.
“The pilots had more than 600 combined flying hours on ALH-WSI and more than 1800 service flying hours in between. The aircraft was commissioned in June 2015,” it said.
An investigating judge has been set up to investigate the crash.
An Indian Army Aviation Advance Light Helicopter (Weapon Systems Integrated) – ALH WSI, based at Likabai in Assam, crashed near Migging village on Friday morning. Four bodies were recovered yesterday and the military has said it is trying to recover the fifth.
An Indian Army Aviation Advance Light Helicopter (Weapon Systems Integrated) – ALH WSI based at Likabali (Assam) crashed into Migging General Area (south of Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh) at 1043 am on October 21, 2022.
The crash site is not connected by a road, but rescue teams were dispatched from the air to the site.
Footage showed that part of the wreckage went up in flames.
The helicopter, with army personnel on board, was on a regular sortie after takeoff from Likabali on Friday morning. The accident happened at 10:43 am.
With no motorable roads leading to the village except a suspension bridge, three joint army and air force teams were involved in the rescue operation using an Mi-17 and two Dhruv helicopters. Local villagers are also said to be involved in the rescue work.
The ALH (WSI), also known as Rudra Mark IV, is a powerful attack helicopter designed and developed by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to fill highly niche roles in the Indian Army and IAF.
The Indian Army’s aviation wing has deployed the Weapon System Integrated (WSI) variant of the Advanced Light Helicopter Rudra in the region, adding more teeth to its tactical missions in view of the ongoing border battle with China in eastern Ladakh.