Lone survivor of Tamil Nadu helicopter crash Group Captain Varun Singh dies

New Delhi, December 15

Decorated air warrior Group Captain Varun Singh died at a military hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday, a week after he was seriously injured in the chopper crash near Coonoor that killed CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 armed forces personnel.

The Indian Air Force said the 'braveheart' Group Captain succumbed to his injuries in the morning.

"IAF is deeply saddened to inform the passing away of braveheart Group Captain Varun Singh, who succumbed this morning to the injuries sustained in the helicopter accident on 08 Dec 21. IAF offers sincere condolences and stands firmly with the bereaved family," it said on Twitter.

The Group Captain was admitted to a hospital in Wellington in Tamil Nadu with severe burns on Wednesday last following the Mi-17V5 helicopter crash.

Last Thursday, Group Captain Singh was shifted to the Command Hospital in Bengaluru from Wellington.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the passing away of Group Captain Singh, saying his rich service to the nation would never be forgotten.

Describing the Group Captain as a "true fighter", Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he fought till his last breath.

"Pained beyond words to learn of the demise of IAF pilot, Group Captain Varun Singh. He was a true fighter who fought till his last breath. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and friends. We stand firmly with the family in this hour of grief," he said.   

Group Captain Singh was on board the ill-fated Russian-made chopper as the liaison officer for the visit of Gen Rawat, India's senior-most military officer, to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington. He was serving as an instructor at the prestigious institute.

Group Captain Singh received Gen Rawat at the Sulur airbase from where the entourage was heading towards Wellington in the chopper that crashed.

Group Captain Singh was conferred the Shaurya Chakra for displaying exemplary composure and skill when his Tejas aircraft developed a technical snag on October 12 last year.

The award citation said despite being in extreme physical and mental stress in a life-threatening situation, he maintained exemplary composure and recovered the aircraft, exhibiting exceptional flying skill.

"Faced with a potential hazard to his own life, he displayed extraordinary courage and skill to control and safely land the fighter aircraft saving hundreds of crores," it said.

"The pilot went beyond the call of duty and landed the aircraft taking calculated risks. This allowed an accurate analysis of fault on the indigenously designed fighter and further institution of preventive measures against recurrence," it said.

Group Captain Singh's father, Colonel KP Singh (retd) had served in the Army Air Defence.

Singh's family originally hails from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. PTI