Coonoor chopper crash probe on track: IAF
Hyderabad: Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on Saturday stated that all procedures for flying VVIPs would be reviewed based on the findings of the inquiry on the Coonoor chopper crash that claimed the lives of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 13 others recently. Speaking to the media […]
Hyderabad: Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on Saturday stated that all procedures for flying VVIPs would be reviewed based on the findings of the inquiry on the Coonoor chopper crash that claimed the lives of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 13 others recently.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Combined Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal here, Chaudhari said the court of inquiry would be a ‘very very fair process’, and that the tri-services inquiry led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh would take a few more weeks to be completed.
“I would not like to pre-empt any of the findings of the court of inquiry because it is a thorough process. The mandate given to him is to investigate every single angle and look into every single aspect of what could have gone wrong and come out with suitable recommendations and findings,” the IAF chief said, adding that preliminarily by looking at the material evidence, it was unfair on him to make a comment or judgment on what could have gone wrong.
Threat from Pak, China
Earlier, stating that India was continuously evaluating threats from Pakistan and China, the IAF chief said the complete disengagement at the Line of Actual Control with China was yet to be done. Forces continued to be deployed in forward locations.
“We are continuously evaluating threats from Pakistan and China and are very well aware of it. The stand-off with China does continue, disengagement has taken place in certain areas in Ladakh but complete disengagement has not taken place. The Air Force will continue to maintain deployment. We are prepared to take on any challenge that we may face in that area,” he said.
Rafales on time
Stating that the Rafale aircraft were delivered in time, Chaudhari replied to a query saying that out of 36 Rafale jets, 32 were already delivered. Of the remaining four Rafale jets, three would arrive on time in February. The last aircraft with India-specific enhancements would be delivered after all trials were conducted.
As for discussions with French Defence Minister Florence Parly, the IAF chief said discussions were held on the future maintenance of the Rafale jets and setting up of D-level maintenance in India.
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