IAF officer killed in chopper crash

Bangalore: An Indian Air Force (IAF) officer died when his helicopter crashed while rehearsing for an air show in Bangalore on Friday.

Squadron Leader Priye Sharma died when the Dhruv advanced light helicopter (ALH) of which he was the co-pilot crashed in the Yelahanka air force station, an IAF spokesman said.

The pilot, Wing Commander V Jetley, was injured and has been admitted to the Air Force command hospital in Bangalore. “Sharma's body has been recovered from the crash site,” the spokesperson told IANS.

The two officers were members of the IAF's Sarang display team and were rehearsing for the Bangalore International Airshow, which begins on February 7. Three other helicopters were part of the sortie.

"There was no (no) mid-air collision," said the spokesperson. "An inquiry has been ordered into the accident, which occurred between 10 and 11 am."

The ALHs are built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bangalore.