"It was a sad incident and I am pained at it. I have already asked the IAF and I am also getting details from other sources," he said when asked about the January 16 incident.
Antony was asked to comment on reports suggesting that IAF air crew including two Garud security guards had abandoned their chopper with their weapons and an injured CRPF trooper on board.
The IAF has ordered a Court of Inquiry into the incident. It will also look into the decision taken by air crew and Garud security guards to leave the chopper unguarded in the thick forests.
The incident had occurred last Friday when the Mi-17 helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission came under fire from Naxals. It had crash landed after the 15 hits caused extensive damage.
The helicopter, which had seven persons onboard, was fired when it was descending to pick up an injured jawan of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force which was conducting a road- opening operation along with CRPF.
Reports suggested that the air crew and two Garud guards left behind the chopper with two machine guns on-board to get help from the nearby CRPF camp.
