Case of ‘own fire’ that crashed IAF chopper post-Balakot: Military court stays action against officers

Six IAF officers, including two pilots and four crew members, were killed over Budgam while they were on their way back to the Srinagar airbase on February 27.

Key Highlights

• While Group Captain Chaudhary was the Chief Operations Officer of the Srinagar airbase at that time, the Wing Commander was the Senior Air Traffic Control officer

• The crash took place when a missile from the SPYDER Air Defence Missile system was fired at the Mi-17v5 chopper, bringing it down immediately

New Delhi: In a huge development, a military court on Monday stayed action against two Indian Air Force officers in the disciplinary action for their alleged involvement in the chopper crash case in Srinagar the very next day after Balakot airstrikes in February 2019.

Six IAF officers, including two pilots and four crew members, were killed over Budgam while they were on their way back to the Srinagar airbase on February 27 around the same time Pakistani air force fighter jets were hovering over Indian territory.

“Both the officers (Group Captain SR Chowdhary and Wing Commander Shyam Naithani) had challenged the court of inquiry (CoI) as well as its finding on the ground of violation of particular air force rules as well as the composition of the Court of Inquiry being contrary to Air Force order,” the counsel of the two officers Ankur Chhibber said, according to news agency ANI.

The court has moved the next hearing on the case to September 30.

“The court after hearing the parties was pleased to direct that prima facie there are violations in the CoI and therefore has directed that no action be taken based on the said CoI and its findings till the next date which is September 30,” Chhibber said.

As per Rajendra Menon, chairman of the Principal Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal, the body is “of the considered view that the applicant has, prima facile, been able to demonstrate non-compliance with non-statutory provisions in the conduct of court of inquiry”.

While Group Captain Chaudhary was the Chief Operations Officer of the Srinagar airbase at that time, the Wing Commander was the Senior Air Traffic Control officer (SATCO).

The crash took place when a missile from the SPYDER Air Defence Missile system was fired at the Mi-17v5 chopper, bringing it down immediately.