Article Posted on : - Jul 13, 2009

A file photo of A K Antony

NEW DELHI (PTI): Government has said that 56 aircraft and helicopters of the three services had crashed, killing 34 personnel during the last three years.

“37 aircraft and 19 helicopters had crashed during the last three financial years and the current year till July 2,” Defence Minister A K Antony said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Monday.

He added that 34 service personnel were killed in these crashes causing a loss of civil property worth around Rs 6.3 lakhs.

“Major reasons for these aircraft accidents in the defence forces are human errors and technical defects,” the Minister added.

Meanwhile, replying to another query, Antony said that the soldiers posted in high altitude regions were being provided special clothing and reserve stocks were being maintained to meet contingencies.

“An empowered committee under the chairmanship of Master General of Ordnance (MGO) was formed for fast track procurement of special clothing and mountaineering equipment in August 2007,” he said.