Two pilots die as Indian military helicopter crashes

HYDERABAD, India (AFP) Jul 31, 2003
An instructor and a trainee pilot died Thursday when the French-built helicopter they were flying crashed after taking off from an airbase in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, officials said.

The Alouette helicopter lost control during a training sortie over Tomkuntha town in Ranga Reddy district, 45 kilometres (28 miles) west of the state capital Hyderabad, airforce spokesman Mahesh Upasani said.

"The helicopter crashed into paddy fields soon after taking off from the Dundigal airforce base near Hyderabad," said local police commissioner Mahender Reddy.

Upasani said instructor V. Narayan and trainee army captain Avinash Sharma received "fatal injuries" in the crash that occurred 10 kilometres (six miles) from a military flying training school.

The Indian Air Force, which is the world's fourth largest, has been plagued by crashes, mostly of its ageing MiG jets.

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