Army chopper crash: Pilot’s body recovered, search on for co-pilot

Body of one of the two pilots of army’s Rudra helicopter that crashed into Ranjit Sagar Dam in Jammu on August 3 was recovered on Sunday evening after 12 days of intensive search operations, authorities said.

“Body of the pilot, lieutenant colonel AS Baath, was retrieved from the Ranjit Sagar lake around 6.30 pm on Sunday. Searches for the co-pilot, (a captain) are on,” said Kathua district police chief (SSP) Ramesh Chander Kotwal.

Defence spokesman lieutenant colonel Devender Anand said that mortal remains of the army officer were retrieved from a depth of 75.9 metres at 1819h (6.19 pm) and efforts were on to locate the remains of the co-pilot.