Deceased Army pilot’s dad has questions

The wreckage of the chopper in Jammu and Kashmir. File pic

The father of an Army Aviation pilot who died in a crash in Jammu and Kashmir last year has written to President Ram Nath Kovind, requesting him to make it mandatory for all army pilots to undergo underwater survival training and to equip them with essential life-saving gears.

Harish Chander Joshi's son Capt Jayant Joshi of 254 Squadron of Army Aviation died on August 3, 2021, after his helicopter crashed and fell into Ranjit Sagar dam in Jammu and Kashmir during a mission sortie.

A pilot of Rudra Weapon System Integrated attack helicopter of Army Aviation, Jayant Joshi along with Lt. Col. A S Batth, a test pilot and an aviation instructor, were practising target acquisition and deployment of integrated weapons on the dam when the crash took place.

"The crash has exposed many glaring gaps in the safety processes being followed in Army Aviation. It has also apparently revealed an attitude of apathy and disregard in the matter of pilot safety and training needs among those responsible for the affairs of Army Aviation," Jayant Joshi's father Harish Chander Joshi wrote in his letter to the President.

The President's secretariat has forwarded the complaint to the Defence Secretary. In his letter, Joshi asked, "My question is that if the Rudra was not meant to be flown over water, then why were the helicopters of the squadron being routinely sent to fly over a vast expanse of water that was 25 km long and 8 km wide? This information on the expanse of water was often put out in the public domain by the army's own publicity wing," he said.

Joshi said he was told that it was the only area available for low flying as it was free from obstacles. Joshi has also urged the President to fix accountability for the death of his son and the other pilot.

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