Death dive at air show
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seven persons.
There was applause as the four aerobatics planes took off in formation at about 11.20 am even as the inaugural function was on and Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel was holding forth on air safety and growth.
As if underscoring his optimism about the country’s aviation sector, the Kiran MK-II planes of the Sagar Pawan team soared off gracefully and began a breathtaking combination of aerobatics manoeuvres, evoking audible gasps from the crowds.
Many VIPs, including Andhra Pradesh chief minister K. Rosaiah, US ambassador to India Timothy Roemer, French ambassador Jerome Bonnafont, civil aviation secretary M. Madhavan Nair, UB Group and Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya, Jet Airways chief Naresh Goyal and GMR Group chairman G.M Rao were among those witnessing the dance in the sky.
The pilots undertook loops and broke and reformed with terrifying precision. Ten minutes into the show, the plane carrying Cmdr Maurya and Lt. Cmdr Nair broke formation and went into a dive.
The applauding VIPs did not know it then, but the plane spiralled out of control, hurtled down and crashed with a loud noise into a building about four km from Begumpet Airport, destroying a cellphone tower and the penthouse on top. There was a loud boom and plumes of thick smoke immediately started emerging from the distance. The thousands watching the air show realised with shock that the plane had crashed.
Mr G.M. Rao, Ficci secretary general Amit Mitra and Airbus senior official Kiran Rao were exchanging pleasantries when the boom was heard. There was stunned silence and shocked disbelief for about 15 minutes after which the business leaders started talking among themselves. “I was shocked to know about the crash,” said Mr Rosaiah after the inaugural function. “I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members of the pilots. I have asked officials and organisers to provide adequate treatment for the injured persons.”
“What began as such a promising day has sadly ended so tragically,” said Mr Roemer. “These heart-breaking losses have an even more piercing impact when you are part of the event.”
Lt Cmdr Rahul Nair ejected after the aircraft lost control, but his parachute failed to open. He landed on a high-tension wire and was charred to death within minutes in full public view. An eyewitness claimed brain matter spilled out when his body hit the ground.
Black smoke billowed from the building and the mangled remains of the aircraft fell all around. Fuel dripped from the remains of the plane on top, creating fears about a possible explosion. But luckily no fire broke out.
People ran away from the area fearing that the building would collapse. But the structure stood firm though the top floor suffered severe damage. A car parked outside the building was crushed after a part of the aircraft fell on it.
A police team led by city commissioner A.K. Khan immediately reached the spot and cordoned off the area. District collector Navin Mittal also reached the site. The authorities rushed the injured to private hospitals.
The Sagar Pawan team, formed in 2003 and based in Goa, is one of the two prestigious naval aerobatics teams in the world, the other being the “Blue Angels” of the US Navy.
Cmdr Maurya and Lt Cmdr Nair were part of the 16-member team that had performed during the MiG-29 induction ceremony in Goa last month and had come to Hyderabad the other day along with the rest of the team.
“It is a sad incident,” said aviation historian P. Anuradha Reddy, who was with the team on Tuesday. “All the members of Sagar Pawan were talking about the show in a happy mood. Rahul and Maurya talked to me in a jovial manner. I cannot believe that they are no more.”
Age Correspondent
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