IAF Chopper Crash: Brigadier LS Lidder Was In Line For A Promotion, Had Trained With RS Rathore

Former minister and Olympian Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has said that he has lost a friend, and India has lost one of the brightest and bravest officers in the form of Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, one of the 13 victims of the Coornool crash.

Rathore said he and Brigadier Lidder, whom he called 'Tony' had trained together at the National Defence Academy and fought terrorists together in Kashmir.

We trained together at #NDA. We fought terrorists together in #Kashmir. In the loss of Brig LS Lidder, SM, VSM today, India has lost one of its brightest & bravest officers & I have lost a friend. A decorated soldier, caring husband & doting father, you will be missed, Tony. pic.twitter.com/4cIV5WEtVr

¡ª RajyavardhanRathore (@Ra_THORe) December 8, 2021

Brigadier Lidder, who had his roots in Panchkula was the Defence Adviser to General Rawat.

BCCL

He was a second-generation Army officer. His late father Mehnga Singh was a colonel.

He was commissioned into 2 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in December 1990, a battalion he later commanded.

Due for promotion

Brigadier Lidder had been on Bipin Rawat's staff for more than a year and was due for a promotion shortly.

He would have been promoted to the rank of Major General and could have served as the General officer Commanding of a Division.

He had also published several military papers, his last being published in the Centre for Land Warfare Studies journal.

Brig Lidder served extensively in counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir and commanded a brigade along India's borders with China.

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

As the defence assistant to Gen Rawat, Brig Lidder played an important role in planning India's higher defence reforms under which an ambitious roadmap has been drawn to roll out tri-services theatre commands to ensure greater coordination among the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.

Distinguished career

He was a recipient of the Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal and served as India's defence attache to Kazakhstan in his distinguished career.

On Thursday, a day after the fatal crash of the Indian Air Force Mi-17V5 helicopter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that a 'tri service' enquiry has been ordered into the incident.

The enquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command.

AFP

Group Captain Varun Singh is the only occupant of the ill-fated aircraft who was brought to a hospital alive.

Singh is said to be stable but is on life support in the Military Hospital at Wellington.

Meanwhile, a video of the IAF's Mi-17V5 helicopter flying over Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu has surfaced that seemingly shows the final moments of the chopper before it crashed.

The video, shot by locals, captured the flying helicopter disappearing into the mist within seconds.

People can be seen walking on a deserted railway track to spot the chopper.

A change in the sound of the helicopter flying overhead can be heard as people look at each other. Someone asked, "What happened? Did it crash?" to which another seemingly replied "Yes."

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