The Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter was ferrying military officials to a forward post, defence spokesman Suneet Newton said. Earlier in the day, an IAF officer had said five personnel were killed and one person was critically injured. The crash comes a day ahead of the Air Force Day, October 8, on which the IAF celebrates its formation in 1932. The IAF is trying to modernise with new planes and helicopters but the procurement process has been slow. Dhanoa had said on Thursday that the IAF hopes to achieve its sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons only by 2032.

Source: The Telegraph October 06, 2017 09:00 UTC