New Delhi: Newly appointed IAF chief RKS Bhadauria today admitted that shooting down the Indian chopper in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this year was a “big mistake”.
Bhadauria, for the first time, accepted that the crashing of a Mi-17 chopper in Srinagar on February 27, was a case of ‘friendly fire’.
Commenting on the Mi-17 crash in Srinagar, Bhadauria said, “Court of Inquiry has been completed and it was our mistake as our missile had hit our own chopper. We will take action against the two officers. We accept this was our big mistake and we will ensure such mistakes are not repeated in future.”
“Our missile hit (the helicopter). This has been established. Administrative action and disciplinary action is being taken. Necessary steps are being taken so such incidents don’t repeat,” he added.
The Mi17 V5 chopper was shot down at Budgam near Srinagar on 27 February, just a day after the Indian Air Force fighters went deep inside Pakistani territory and bombed a terror camp at Balakot following the terror attack on CRPF convoy killing 40 troopers.