Shooting down of own Mi-17 helicopter over Srinagar a "big mistake", admits IAF Chief

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on October 4 categorically owned up to the fratricidal shooting down of an IAF Mi-17 helicopter near Srinagar amidst a fog of confusion when the aerial dogfight was taking place hundreds of kilometres away between Indian and Pakistan Air Force fighters above the Naushera sector of the Line of Control on February 27, a day after the IAF's paradigm-shifting cross-border air strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist camp at Balakot in Pakistan. All six persons on board the IAF Mi-17 Helicopter were killed. A civilian was also killed on the ground.

"The court of inquiry of inquiry was completed last week. It has been established that it was our mistake. We've taken administrative action. Disciplinary action will be taken against two officers. It was a big mistake. Necessary steps will be taken to ensure that it's not repeated," he said while responding to a question at a press conference in New Delhi ahead of Air Force Day.

Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said a laid down process would be followed in determining whether the six IAF personnel killed in the tragic mix-up would be treated as battle casualties.

The Mi-17 was brought down by an IAF Air Defence Spyder surface-to-air missile battery, after being mistaken for an enemy aircraft. Reports have suggested that the helicopter pilots had been asked to shut down their Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system. The Srinagar airbase Air Traffic Control is also reported to have been attempting communication with the helicopter, in a bid to get it to vacate the Air Defence Zone.

The Air Chief's comment on disciplinary action is an indication that two senior officers who were directing air defence operations at Srinagar on February 27 will be tried in a court martial for the fratricidal or friendly fire killings.

Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said a laid down process would be followed in determining whether the six IAF personnel killed in the tragic mix-up would be treated as battle casualties.