The chiefs of Indian Air Force and the Indian Army flew together in a trainer version of the LCA Tejas fighter aircraft during the Aero India 2025 show being held in Yelahanka in Bengaluru. However, questions were raised if the two armed forces chiefs broke safety protocols during the flight.
On February 9, Air chief marshal AP Singh and Army chief general Upendra Dwivedi took a sortie together on a Tejas aircraft at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka just a day ahead of the start of Aero India 2025 show.
This was the first time that two serving chiefs flew together in an India-made fighter aircraft, ANI reported.
However, a retired army officer pointed out that it violated rules that have been in place since 1963. The rules were in place to avoid loss of lives of senior officers in such cases.
“Great photo op, but violation of rules applicable since 1963 for senior officers let alone two Chiefs not to be flying together. The rules were framed when two Lt Gens, one Maj Gen, one AVM and one Brigadier apart from the pilot lost their lives,” said Lt general HS Panag (Retired) on X.
To this a user replied and said we should repose faith in the locally-made fighter aircraft and to not deny them “little fun”.
Panag responded by saying the key question was how many Tejas has been manufactured till now. He pointed out that the first Tejas was flown in 2001, 17 years after its conception and till now the country hasn’t even produced the first 40 aircraft yet, raising questions of production capacity.
“:) As Gabar would say - Kitne Tejas ban gaye hain?! Air Chief - "First (Tejas) aircraft flew in 2001 — 17 years (after conception in 1984). Then, the induction started another 15 years later — 2016. Today, we are in 2024, I do not have the first 40 aircraft also. This is the production capability.”
Why the rules do not allow two serving chiefs to fly together?
On November 23, 1963, a helicopter carrying four top-ranking Army officers and a top Indian Air Force officer died along with the pilot after a deadly crash in Poonch, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
The four Army officers on the helicopter included Lt Gen Daulet Singh, GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt.-Gen. Bikram Singh, Corps Commander, Western Command, Maj-Gen. N K D Nanavati, commander of an infantry division in Jammu and Kashmir, and Brig. S R Uberoi, commander of an infantry brigade in Jammu and Kashmir.
Indian Air Force’s officer Air Vice-Marshal E W Pinto, Air Officer Commanding, Western Air Command also died on the ill-fated helicopter.
According to the report, the helicopter which was piloted by Fl. Lt. SS Sodhi, “got entangled in a telephone cable and crashed”, leaving no survivors.
The incident took place in Gulpur, which was near ceasefire line in the Poonch area. A statement by the government stated that the officers were on an inspection tour in the French-made Alouette helicopter when the tragic accident took place, HT report said.
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