Two IAF Pilots Killed in Chopper Crash, Record Blotted

New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) The safety record of the Indian Air Force -- best during the previous year of the past 75 years since its inception -- received a jolt today with two of its pilots killed when their Cheetah helicopter crashed during a routine sortie to the Siachen Glacier.

An official spokesperson here, confirming the deaths, said the helicopter had taken off from the Siachen Base Camp on ''a routine flying mission'' and crashed after losing contact with the Base.

''A court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident'', said the spokesperson giving details of the incident which had blotted the IAF safety-record -- of 0.36 per cent during 2006-07, the lowest since its inception in 1932.

The incident came well within a fortnight of assumption of office as Chief of Air Staff of Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major -- who, in his first interaction with mediapersons on Monday last, had boasted of the creditable safety-record as one of the achievements of the Air Force.

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... Picking up Para Four of DI41, DEFENCE-J&K-3RD LEAD HELICOPTER CRASH, NEW DELHI.

UNI