BANGALORE: A Saras prototype II, India’s first indigenously developed multi-role transport aircraft, which was on a test flight, crashed near Bidadi, on Friday instantly killing three Indian Air Force officers. The reason for the crash is yet to be ascertained. Designed and developed by National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL), the aircraft took off from HAL Airport at 2.55 p.m. before coming down around 3.30 p.m. near Seshagirihalli off Bangalore-Mysore Highway. Pilot Wing Commander K. Praveen, co-pilot Wing Commander D.K. Saha and flight engineer Squadron Leader S. Ilyaraja were charred to death as the flight burst into flames soon after it crashed in an open field. According to NAL officials, the aircraft lost contact with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at 3.30 p.m. It was on a regular test flight, officials said. Sources said that such sorties were done twice a day and the aircraft took the same route for its training sorties. “We saw the aircraft coming down abruptly and followed the direction in which it went. It turned abruptly and started losing height. After a couple of somersaults in mid-air, it crashed. I could notice smoke from a distance,” said Anand, an eyewitness, recollecting the sequence of events before the aircraft crashed.
“Two loud blasts”
“As we went close, we heard two loud blasts. Except the tail-end of the aircraft, everything was burnt,” he added.Mr. Anand, a resident of Ramanagara, who was driving with his friend on the Mysore Road, claimed he informed the Ramanagara police immediately. While five fire tenders were rushed to the spot, Mr. Anand said everything was burnt by the time the fire engines reached the spot. The three experienced pilots along with the aircraft had taken part in the recently concluded Aero India 2009. Aircraft debris, including the propeller and parachute, were found strewn around the area, and some partially burnt parts were recovered as much as 500 metres away from the crash site. As the surging crowd threatened to run over the crash site, the police cordoned off the area to help the IAF officials locate the data recorder, black box and other details that could provide reasons for the crash. The charred bodies that were beyond recognition were salvaged from the debris around 7 p.m. Two rescue helicopters with some officials of the NAL and IAF were sent to the spot. The officials of Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are expected to visit the spot to conduct an inquiry on Saturday morning.
“As we went close, we heard two loud blasts. Except the tail-end of the aircraft, everything was burnt,” he added.Mr. Anand, a resident of Ramanagara, who was driving with his friend on the Mysore Road, claimed he informed the Ramanagara police immediately. While five fire tenders were rushed to the spot, Mr. Anand said everything was burnt by the time the fire engines reached the spot. The three experienced pilots along with the aircraft had taken part in the recently concluded Aero India 2009. Aircraft debris, including the propeller and parachute, were found strewn around the area, and some partially burnt parts were recovered as much as 500 metres away from the crash site. As the surging crowd threatened to run over the crash site, the police cordoned off the area to help the IAF officials locate the data recorder, black box and other details that could provide reasons for the crash. The charred bodies that were beyond recognition were salvaged from the debris around 7 p.m. Two rescue helicopters with some officials of the NAL and IAF were sent to the spot. The officials of Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are expected to visit the spot to conduct an inquiry on Saturday morning.
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