Bangalore, Aug 27 (IANS) A two-seater Chetak helicopter of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) crashed while taking-off during a training mission here Friday. The two pilots escaped with minor injuries, HAL said.

The chopper, VT-EIV of the HAL Rotary Wing Academy, was being flown by retired Air Cmde. Roj Assey, an instructor at the Academy, and Capt. Virendra Singh of the Indian Army, who was taking flying instructions, HAL said in a statement.

'The aircraft was in hover and about to take off when it impacted the ground and was substantially damaged,' it said.

'Both pilots suffered minor injuries,' the statement added.

It said the matter has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which will conduct a probe, the statement said.