Home Minister Rajnath Singh is facing heat from the bereaved family members of the victims in the incident of plane crash of a Border Security Force (BSF) aircraft which killed all 10 occupants.
Why are old aircraft being used and lives of troops put at risk?
However, BSF chief DK Pathak rejected allegations about any technical defect in the 11-seater Beechcraft Super King aircraft.
Pathak maintained that the 20-year-old aircraft was completely “airworthy” and flying “very well”.
The plane was carrying BSF’s technical personnel to Ranchi when it crashed in Delhi’s Dwarka area on Tuesday and burst into flames just outside IGI airport shortly after take-off.
The deceased were identified as:
- BSF Deputy Commandment Bhagwati Prasad
- Second-in-command Rajesh Shivrain
- Inspector RP Yadav
- Pilot BP Bhatt
- Inspector S N Sharma
- Sub Inspector Ravindra Kumar
- Sub Inspector Chotte Lal
- ASI DP Chouhan
- Sub Inspector Sunder Singh
- Constable K Rawat
According to officials from the Air Traffic Control and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the 1995 vintage aircraft suddenly took a kind of U-turn towards the airport after taking off at 9:37 am and hit a tree while apparently approaching to land following a possible technical problem.
Family Members’ Questions to Rajnath Singh
Sub-Inspector Rabinder Kumar’s daughter asked Singh and BSF Director General DK Pathak to “address” these issues so that soldiers on the line of duty are not killed in such mishaps.
Jawab dijiye (give me an answer). Why only soldiers get killed in such accidents and it never happens to VIPs.Daughter of Sub-Inspector Rabinder Kumar
Singh, consoled the young woman and assured a review of each and every aspect that the relatives have underlined.
My son-in-law told me that the planes in the BSF air wing are getting old and new ones are expected in sometime. I don’t know when will these new aircraft come but surely he will not be there to see them.Father-in-Law of Co-Pilot Rajesh Shivrain
The family members of another personnel said they were being told that the BSF fleet is growing old and new acquisition is stuck in “red tape”.
This is worrying, for us and everyone who is associated with this wing. We just want that a soldier’s life should not be put at stake by using old machines.Relative of Assistant SI DP Chauhan
Pathak Defends BSF
The Director General of BSF DK Pathak said that the ill-fated aircraft was 20 years old and in the aviation (domain) an aircraft has a life of 40-45 years.
He said the main probe into the crash is being done by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and that it would be “premature” to speculate on the possible reasons for the mishap.
As I said, this aircraft has been flying very well...it had been flying three to four days in a week and there was absolutely no problem. Whenever any kind of a snag is reported it is promptly attended to and aircraft is not made airborne until it is certified by the technicians that it is worthy to fly.DK Pathak, BSF Director General
The BSF Chief said the plane B-200, registered as VT-BSA, was flying about 3-4 days in a week.
(With inputs from PTI.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)