Friday, March 4 2005 18:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: An Indian Air Force academy helicopter crashed in the fields in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh today (Mar 4, 2005) killing a trainee pilot, police said.

The three-seater chopper, belonging to IAF Station, Hakimpet, was on a routine sortie when the mishap occurred, police added.

The helicopter crashed near a hillock between Pabanda and Charlapalli villages, about 70 kms from the State capital.

The trainee pilot Sparsh Rana (22), a native of Maharashtra, was on a routine sortie on HPT-32 when it crashed, a report from Medak said.

Rana had joined the Dundigal Air Force Station last year.

The initial investigations revealed that the aircraft hit the top of a hill and crashed.

Senior police and Air Force officials have rushed to the spot, the report added.