IAF clarification on J-K chopper crash

The Indian Air Force said Saturday there was no connection between the progress of a probe into the crash of its chopper in Srinagar and the timing of the LS polls, dismissing a report that there were instructions to keep on hold court of inquiry findings.

The probe into the February 27 crash of Mi-17 helicopter during tensions with Pakistan is looking into the possibility that it may have been “accidentally” shot down by Indian air defence system. “This is his imagination and IAF categorically denies this,” the IAF tweeted. “CoI of aircraft accidents are meticulous & time consuming. All past inquiries of aircraft accidents bear testimony to this. Proceedings of a CoI are not commented upon by IAF till completion of the inquiry in all cases. There is no connection between elections & completion of CoI,” it added.