7 killed as IAF chopper crashes in Kashmir

Srinagar: An IAF helicopter crashed in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday, killing both its pilots and four others onboard besides a local resident, officials said.

The helicopter crashed in an open field near Garend Kalaan village in Budgam around 10:05am, they said, adding seven bodies have been recovered from the scene.

Besides the pilots, an operator and three other crew members lost their lives in the crash, the officials said.

The local resident has been identified as Kifayat Hussain Ganaie, they said.

Officials in New Delhi said it was an Mi-17 helicopter.

7 killed as IAF chopper crashes in Kashmir — Indian soldiers stand next to the wreckage of the crashed helicopter. Photo: REUTERS/Danish Ismail

Earlier, officials in Srinagar had described the downed aircraft as a jet. They said the aircraft broke into two and caught fire immediately.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan's fighter jets violated India's airspace in Nowshera sector on Wednesday.

IAF fighter jets had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and destroyed a vast terror camp within Pakistan in a pre-dawn strike on Tuesday.

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