In Indian Air Force inquiry has found five officers guilty for the crash of a helicopter in friendly fire over Srinagar in February 27 when India and Pakistan were engaged in a short aerial battle.

The helicopter was shot down by an Indian missile when Indian air defences were on high alert following the February 26 Balakotair strike that targetted a terrorist camp in Pakistan. The helicopter crashe dnear Budgam, killing all six Indian Air Force personnel on board.

"Five officers have been found blameworthy by the courtof inquiry and the report has been sent to the Air Headquarters for furtheraction," government sources said.The officers found guilty of negligence and not following procedures include one Group Captain, two Wing Commanders andtwo Flight Lieutenants, sources said.

Air Marshal Hari Kumar was the Western Air Command chief atthe time of the incident.The helicopter was shot down around the same time whenIndian and Pakistani fighter jets got into a rare aerial battle over Jammu andKashmir. The aerial battle was a result of Pakistani jets launching acounter-attack in response to the Balakot air strikes.Indian air defences wereon their highest state of alert as a result of the Pakistani air intrusion. Itwas right then that the Mi-17 V-5 chopper of the 154 Helicopter Unit took off.It crashed within 10 minutes after taking off after being hit by an Indian airdefence missile.