Gen Bipin Rawat Chopper Crash: Know What Is A CFIT Accident

New Delhi: The IAF chopper carrying Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 12 others crashed in Tamil Nadu last month because the pilot became spatially disoriented resulting in a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) after the Mi-17 entered clouds.

This is the preliminary findings of the tri-services Court of Inquiry, led by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, a helicopter pilot himself, into the crash. The Court of Inquiry ruled out mechanical failure, sabotage or negligence behind the crash.

What is a CFIT accident?

According to the Flight Safety Foundation, CFIT is an accident when an airworthy aircraft under the control of the crew is flown unintentionally into terrain, obstacles or water with no prior awareness on the crew’s part of the impending collision.

CFIT can strike pilots of all experience levels, from the less experienced to the really experienced flier. CFIT accidents are caused by several factors — including human factors, which are beyond the scope of this report to examine.