New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has urged to avoid 'uninformed speculation' on the  Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat chopper crash, in which 12 other defence personnel, including Mrs Bipin Rawat, died on Wednesday. 

IAF has said the inquiry would be completed expeditiously, and facts brought out.

IAF issued a statement on Twitter, " IAF has constituted a tri-service Court of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the tragic helicopter accident on 8 Dec. The inquiry would be completed expeditiously and facts brought out. Till then, to respect the dignity of the deceased, uninformed speculation may be avoided". 

IAF has constituted a tri-service Court of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the tragic helicopter accident on 08 Dec 21. The inquiry would be completed expeditiously & facts brought out. Till then, to respect the dignity of the deceased, uninformed speculation may be avoided.

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 10, 2021

Air Marshal Manvendra Singh is heading the tri-services inquiry into the IAF's Mi-17 that crashed near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. The chopper crashed shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur at 11.45 am, Coimbatore, for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills. 

Manvendra Singh is Commander of the Indian Air Force’s training command and a helicopter pilot himself.

General Bipin Rawat, is a four-star general of the Indian Army. He is the first and current CDS of India. On 30 December 2019, he was appointed as the first CDS of India and assumed office from 1 January 2020. Prior to taking over as the CDS, he served as 57th and last Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee as well as 26th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.