Eleven people -- two pilots and nine trainee pilots -- were killed on Friday when an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter crashed after an explosion on board near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said that the explosion on board the chopper occurred minutes after its take-off from the Tawang helipad at around 12 noon. The helicopter was en route to Guwahati.

IAF officials said the wreckage of the medium-lift chopper has been located by the Army in Bomdir area.

Three bodies have been recovered so far, Kalia said adding, a search is on for the remaining bodies.

The officials said a court of inquiry has been ordered into the incident.