2 pilots missing as Army helicopter crashes in Pathankot

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Pathankot, August 3

The pilot and the co-pilot of an Army helicopter went missing after it crashed into the Ranjit Sagar Dam lake around 10.30 am today.

The missing pilots were identified as Capt Jayant Joshi and Lt Col SS Bhatt. Joshi’s mother Jeewan Dhara Joshi is a serving lieutenant colonel in the Military Nursing Service (MNS).

The search operation was launched around 11 am under the supervision of Army officers. More than 20 divers were deployed to locate the pilots. A large part of the chopper wreckage could be seen floating in the lake. The dam is situated around 30 km from Pathankot.

The ill-fated Dhruv helicopter belonging to the 254 Army Aviation Squadron had taken off from Mamun cantonment. The exact cause of the crash is being ascertained by Army experts. An NDRF team also reached the spot.

Search operation

Search is on to locate the missing pilots Capt Jayant Joshi and Lt Col SS Bhatt