Shooting down our own Mi-17 in Budgam a ‘Big Mistake’: IAF Chief

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 04, 2019: Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, addressing his first press conference as the new chief of the Indian Air Force on Friday, 4 October, said that it was a “big mistake” on IAF’s part to shoot down its own Mi-17 helicopter in Budgam on 27 February this year, Yahoo reported.

 

Rakesh Bhadauria took charge as the 26th Chief of Air Staff on Monday, succeeding former Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, who retired after 41 years of service in the IAF.

Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora took charge as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, the very next day on 1 October.

Air Marshal Bhadauria was commissioned in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in June 1980. He has held various command, staff and instructional positions during his nearly four-decade career.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he won the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’ for standing first in the overall order of merit.

Bhadauria has also commanded a Jaguar squadron, a premier Air Force Station and has 4,250 hours of flying experience on 26 types of fighters and transport aircraft. He is one of the few Air Force pilots to fly a Rafale jet.