NEW DELHI - India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Thursday began a probe into the chopper crash that killed Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and four others Wednesday.

“The DGCA has begun investigations to find out the cause that led to the crash of the chopper. Our preliminary reports say the helicopter may have run into bad weather,” Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel told reporters here.

Patel said: “There was no indication of a snag or shortcoming throughout the flight.” The chopper had a weather radar and was technically capable of flying even in “blind conditions”.

“The chopper was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) instead of being instrument-guided. It is a decision of the pilot. But the facts would be out only after the investigations.”

He also condoled the death of Reddy and others in the crash.

Patel did not spell out the time by which the DGCA would complete its probe.

The minister reiterated that the twin-engined Bell-430 chopper had an airworthiness certification which was valid till December 2010.

“The two pilots killed in the crash were experienced and certified pilots,” he added.

The chief minister had taken off from Hyderabad airport to Chittoor in inclement weather Wednesday morning. The chopper crashed while crossing the dense Nallamalla jungle.

The crash site and the bodies were located Thursday morning.