Air force chopper 'Sarang' crashes at Pokaran

Advanced light helicopter (ALH) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Sarang aerobatic display team crashed Saturday, ahead of the firepower demonstration at Pokaran. "The aircraft suddenly lost power and crashed after the pilot was unable to regain control," the officer told IANS. It crashed at the Jaisalmer airfield, about 50 km from the Pokhran ranges. Both the pilot and the co-pilot of the helicopter were safe. A depleted three-helicopter Sarang team displayed its skills at Sunday's fire power show. This is the second crash of a Sarang ALH in three years. The first happened ahead of the February 2007 AeroIndia International airshow in Bangalore.