Two IAF Pilots Killed in Chopper Crash

New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) Two Indian Air Force pilots were today killed after their Cheetah helicopter crashed during a routine sortie to the Siachen Glacier, an official spokesperson here confirmed.

The spokesperson for the Defence Ministry said the helicopter had taken off from Siachen base camp and was on a routine flying mission when it crashed. ''A court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident.'' The helicopter had taken off from the Glacier base camp this morning at 0700 hours for a routine sortie to the main camp of Siachen glacier. It later lost contact with the control tower.

Rescue operations were launched by the Army and IAF helicopters in the glacier area to locate the pilots and the chopper-wreckage immediately after it was reported missing -- however, poor visibility and heavy snowfall in the area since early this morning initially hampered the operations.

The Cheetah crashed near the Amar Post on the Central Siachen Glacier -- often dubbed as the highest battle-ground on Earth.

Indian and Pakistani troops have been in a eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation on the Glacier since 1984.

Significantly -- as the spokesperson observed, ''the Government has deeply appreciated the cooperation extended by the Pakistan authorities in aerial and ground -based rescue operations''.

Defence Minister AK Antony has conveyed his heart-felt condolences to the bereaved families, the spokesperson added.

UNI