New Delhi: As the investigations began into the recent helicopter crash near Srinagar in which five people were killed, preliminary probe into the case has found the chopper had no licence to fly on a commercial basis.

Aviation officials conducting the probe, confirmed that the BEL-407, which crashed on August 5 killing five people including the pilot, was not meant for commercial operations.

The sources said the chopper purchased in 1990s was licensed to fly only for Jammu and Kashmir government.

According to the rules, any helicopter to be used for commercial purposes has to have two pilots, the sources said. However, the ill-fated helicopter had only one pilot.

Jammu and Kashmir government had cleared "air safari" operations in the state to promote tourism and decided to run helicopters to various places including Amarnath cave shrine on a "no-profit-no-loss" basis.

The decision to introduce a new concept of air safari to promote tourism in the state was taken at a high- level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in Srinagar on July 24.

The state's civil aviation department had decided to use its one fixed wing aircraft and two helicopters for the purpose.

PTI