Itanagar/Shillong: All 12 armed forces personnel on board an IAF MI-17 helicopter were on Friday killed when it crashed minutes after take-off from Tawang in
Arunachal Pradesh.
Though initial reports suggested there was an explosion in the helicopter before it crashed, defence sources, however, denied them.
"The reason for the crash will be ascertained only after an enquiry is completed. A commission of inquiry has been ordered," Defence PRO based in Tezpur (Assam) Col Rajesh Kalia told a news agency.
The 12 people, including 11 IAF officials - two of them pilots - and one Army officer, died when the helicopter crashed at Bomdir bordering China.
All the bodies have been recovered by the Army and police, but they are yet to be identified, he said.
Kalia said the crash occurred minutes after the helicopter, en route to Guwahati, took off from the Tawang helipad at around 12 noon.
IAF sources said the weather was clear and so it was unlikely that the chopper could have encountered any obstruction in visibility.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu condoled the deaths.
PTI
