Article Posted on : - Nov 26, 2008

Reports say the chopper was a lightweight Cheetah helicopter

BAREILLY (PTI): An Army helicopter today crashed into a river, killing its pilot and injuring another near Uchna gaon, police said.

The Army Aviation Corps chopper, which had taken off from base at noon, was on a routine flight when it crashed into Ramganga river, about seven km from here, army sources said.

Pilot Sachin Bhatia was killed and co-pilot KD Bhatia was seriously injured in the mishap.

A fisherman saw the helicopter flying at a low altitude before crashing into the river.

He rescued one of the pilots who was shouting for help, police said, adding the other pilot, who was also critically injured, was trapped in the wreckage and could not be saved.

The body was taken to the district hospital while the injured was rushed to the military hospital, police said.

Senior army and civil officials had reached the crash site, police added.

The cause of the crash could not be ascertained. There was no official word from the Army.