ITANAGAR/SHILLONG, Nov 19 � All 12 armed forces personnel onboard an IAF MI-17 helicopter were today killed when it crashed after an explosion minutes after take-off from Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, reports PTI.
The 12 people, including 11 IAF officials - two of them pilots - and one Army officer, died when the helicopter crashed at Bomdir area bordering China, Defence PRO Col Rajesh Kalia said in Itanagar.
All the bodies have been recovered by the Army and police, he said, adding, the bodies remain to be identified.
Kalia said the explosion onboard occurred minutes after the helicopter took-off from the Tawang helipad at around 12 noon. The helicopter was en route to Guwahati.
A commission of inquiry has been ordered.
IAF sources said the weather was clear and so it was unlikely that the chopper could have encountered any obstruction in visibility.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu condoled the deaths.
