Jamnagar, Gujarat:
Nine air force officials, including five officers, were killed after two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters collided mid-air near Jamnagar in Gujarat today, said an air force spokesperson.
The two Mi-17 helicopters crashed into each other around 12:25 pm, shortly after they took off from the Jamnagar base. The accident happened over the Sarmat field firing range in Sharmath, 12 kilometres south west of Jamnagar.
(See pics)According to initial reports, the Russian-made helicopters came very close to each other while carrying out formation flying and firing exercise. The upper rotators of both the helicopters came in contact, leading to the collision.
The Jamnagar municipal corporation fire brigade reached the spot shortly after the crash. Fire brigade personnel doused the burning wreckage.
A court of inquiry was ordered by the IAF to go into the causes for the accident, IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Gerard Galway said in New Delhi.
(With inputs from agencies)