Odia Pilot Among Two Killed In Helicopter Crash At Chhattisgarh’s Raipur Airport
Bhubaneswar: In a tragic incident, two pilots, including one from Odisha, were killed as a helicopter crashed at Raipur’s Swami Vivekanand Airport today at around 9.10 pm.
The deceased were identified as Captain Gopal Krishna Panda of Baham village in Sambalpur district and Captain A P Shrivastava. The two pilots succumbed to injuries following the crash.
According to reports, the chopper was being used for a routine training sortie. Initial indications suggest technical malfunction as the cause of crash.
A detailed technical investigation at the behest of DGCA and State Government shall be undertaken to ascertain the exact cause.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has expressed deep anguish at the loss of lives and has ordered officials to provide immediate relief to the bereaved families.