How safe are IAF's Russia-made Mi-17 choppers? I Gen Bipin Rawat's tragic death

• After CDS General Bipin Rawat died in a military helicopter crash, Defence expert Retired Major General PK Sehgal said the Mi-17V5 chopper is a very robust aircraft. Sehgal said the IAF helicopter is used for VIP movement in nearly 60 nations across the world. The defence expert added that the twin-engine Russia-made aircraft is 'battle-proven’. According to Sehgal, the Army has been using different variants of it for the last 25 to 30 years. The defence expert further said that only highly qualified pilots fly these aircraft. Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan was the pilot of the chopper that crashed on Wednesday. Sehgal, however, recalled his experience of flying in the same area in a similar aircraft in 1971. The military chopper, carrying Rawat, & 13 others, crashed in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris. Rawat was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address student officers. CDS had taken off from Sulur Airbase for Wellington, was accompanied by his wife Madhulika Rawat. Rawat's DA Brigadier LS Lidder, SO Lt Colonel Harjinder Singh were also present in the aircraft.