Pilots killed in Indian Army helicopter crash

An Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) Cheetah helicopter crashed in eastern Bhutan yesterday, killing both the pilots including a Bhutanese Army Captain.

Army officials said the deceased pilots have been identified as Lt Col Rajneesh Parmar of the Indian Army and Bhutan's Capt Kalzang Wangdi.

An Army Spokesperson said the single-engine helicopter was on its way from Khirmu in Arunanchal Pradesh to Yonphula in Bhutan and went out of radio



and visual contact soon after 1 pm.

The Indian Air Force and the Army deployed helicopters from Misamari and Guwahati in Assam and Hashimara in West Bengal to locate the wreckage of the chopper.

Officials said a high-level inquiry has been ordered. Indian Army undertakes the training of pilots of Bhutanese armed forces as part of defence and security cooperation between the two countries.