This is a story about when the plane carrying the Prime Minister of India, crashed, and the Prime Minister walked out of it virtually unscathed! However, five members of the crew - the best aviators in the Indian Air Force, perished in the crash.
November 4, 1977
The Prime Minister of India, Morarji Desai was scheduled to visit the North Eastern States of India, on an official tour. He was to fly from Delhi to Jorhat (Assam), and for this journey an aircraft of the Indian Air Force HQ Communications Squadron (also known as the Comm Sqdn. or the VIP squadron), was to ferry the PM and his entourage to Jorhat, and return to Delhi.
Accompanying the PM were his son Kantibhai Desai, Mr. John Lobo(Chief of the Intelligence Bureau) and Mr. PK Thungon, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
The crew comprised of Wing Commander Clarence Joseph D'Lima, Squadron Leader Mathew Cryiac (pilot in command, and co-pilot respectively), Wing Commander Joginder Singh (Navigator) Squadron Leader VVS Sankar (Flight Engineer), and Flt. Lt. OP Arora (Flight Signaller). Apart from the operational crew there was Flt. Lt. Raveendran (Under Training), and three other non-commissioned officers on board.
The crew comprised of Wing Commander Clarence Joseph D'Lima, Squadron Leader Mathew Cryiac (pilot in command, and co-pilot respectively), Wing Commander Joginder Singh (Navigator) Squadron Leader VVS Sankar (Flight Engineer), and Flt. Lt. OP Arora (Flight Signaller). Apart from the operational crew there was Flt. Lt. Raveendran (Under Training), and three other non-commissioned officers on board.
The aircraft assigned for this sortie was a Tuplov TU124 (registration No. V643), a twin engine passenger aircraft, specifically used for VIP movement.
The Context
In the '70s, the aerodromes across the Eastern part of India, were not equipped with sophisticated navigation and landing systems. Jorhat airport did not even have electric flares - the lights in a straight line on either side of the runway, which help the pilot identify the runway and the landing path from the air and align the aircraft with it while landing. If night landing at the airport did become necessary, then something called 'goose flares' were used. Goose Flares were essentially kerosene lamps which would be put along the runway edges to light up the runway for the approaching aircraft.
Also, during winters the sun sets very early in the East, and it is dark by 5 pm or so. The weather is unpredictable and keeps changing, with a cloud cover almost permanent.
Keeping all of the above in consideration, the cut off time for any flight to land at Jorhat was 1600 hrs or 4 pm. Also as per the standard drill practice for a sortie to the North East, this aircraft was to fly from Delhi to Badogra at a high altitude. Upon reaching Bagdogra the pilot had to assess the weather conditions and either descent into the Brahmaputra valley or divert to Kolkata which was the nearest airport equipped with Instrument Landing Systems. If the pilot descended he had to commit to land as it was not possible or safe to come out of the valley once in, keeping in mind poor visibility with hills all around, and fuel constraints.
The TU124 aircraft was equipped with an Instrument Landing System. But the necessary ground equivalent system was not available at Jorhat. In such a situation, the navigator on board had to use his skills and knowledge, along with information like speed, heading etc. and some instruments which were basically direction finders, to direct the aircraft to the airfield. What was not available was a Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), which would tell them how far they were from the runway.
The Flight
The Air HQ Communications Squadron flight took off from Palam Airport Delhi, at 5 pm. (Keep in mind that the cut off time for it to land at Jorhat was 4 pm).
Upon reaching Bagdogra, the pilots - Wing Commander Clarence Joseph D'Lima and Squadron Leader Mathew Cyriac committed to proceed to Jorhat. The airport was enveloped in darkness and was under a cloud cover. But they had with them a very competent Navigator - Wing Commander Joginder Singh, who successfully directed the pilots to Jorhat airport.
When they descended into Jorhat (about 100 minutes after take off from Delhi) and broke through the cloud cover, the pilot could see the runway ahead. But Wing Commander D'Lima realized that the aircraft was positioned slightly 'off' the runway, slightly high and too near the runway.
The pilot decided to 'go around' which means abort landing, fly over the runway, gain height, turn back and come in for fresh approach for landing, this time calculating more precisely the distance, direction and alignment of the aircraft with the runway. The procedure is called a 'timed circuit' (each leg - flying out of the runway, turning right or left, then turning in the opposite direction of the runway, is timed precisely and the same time periods used to turn right or left again twice, to align again to the runway for landing).
What probably happened was that with the wind factor, the aircraft had been pushed away farther than estimated before it turned around to align itself for landing. Since the pilot thought that they were nearer to the runway than they actually were, the aircraft was at lower height than optimal.
At this juncture there seemed to be another critical oversight. The two altimeters in the aircraft had not been re-set to show the altitude relative to the airport height rather than altitude above sea level.
Lastly, the flaps and landing gear had been dropped for landing, and the aircraft was absolutely horizontal while approaching the runway. This, results in very limited forward visibility from the cockpit. To complicate matters further, there was total darkness all around. No one in the aircraft realized that they were too low to make it to the runway.
The Crash
The front part of the aircraft hit a tall 'keekar' tree. The nose of the aircraft was ripped apart especially from below. Everything from the bottom part of the cockpit fell open. The first to be thrown out of the aircraft was Wing Commander D'Lima, who fell about 50 meters from the tree, followed by Wing Commander Joginder Singh. Mathew Cryiac, Arora and Sankar were the last to be thrown out - all fell in a heap.
The aircraft continued to descend, and landed on a bamboo cultivation, which completely cushioned the impact. It slid a few meters and came to a halt.
The time was 7.42 pm. The aircraft had crashed a few hundred meters short of the runway.
By sheer luck, all those either at the back of the aircraft or seated on the right side, were saved. This included Flt Lt. Raveendran who had moved towards the rear of the aircraft seconds before the crash, and Kantibhai Desai, who was seated on the left side,but decided to move to the right, again just seconds before. The Prime Minister and others were seated in positions where there was virtually no impact.
The surviving crew were the first to react. They threw open the doors and evacuated everyone to safety. Flt Lt. Raveendran and one Corporal Upadhyaya then walked about 4 kms till reached the Flight Control and alerted them. By then, the airport was sure the aircraft had crashed, but had no idea where or how far.
The Prime Minister, his son, a Chief Minister, and a senior Police Officer along with 4 crew members actually walked out of the crash and lived to tell the tale !
Conclusion
Some of the questions that come to mind are:
1. When the cut off time to land at Jorhat was 4 pm, why was a decision taken to proceed to Jorhat when the take off time itself was 5 pm?
2. Upon reaching Bagdogra, it was clear that the weather was marginal in the Brahmaputra valley. Why did the pilot commit to descend and land instead of diverting to Kolkata?
3. Why did Jorhat airport give permission to the incoming aircraft to land?
I am sure the Court of Enquiry would have found the answers to all of these.
While the passengers and some crew member had a miraculous escape from the crash, it was tragic that the Indian Air Force lost some its best aviators who displayed dedication to duty till the last moments. Those crew members that perished were
Wing Commander Clarence Joseph D' Lima
Wing Commander Joginder Singh
Squadron Leader Mathew Cyriac
Squadron Leader VVS Sankar
Flight Lt. OP Arora
A BIG Salute to them !
PS
In remembrance for those who sacrificed their lives 43 years ago, a bicycle expedition was organised from Jorhat to Delhi, in early 2020, consisting of 13 Air Warriors from the Air HQ Communications Squadron.
With factual inputs from
1. https://tkstales.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/754/
2. http://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-tupolev-tu-124k-jorhat-5-killed
The Air HQ Communications Squadron flight took off from Palam Airport Delhi, at 5 pm. (Keep in mind that the cut off time for it to land at Jorhat was 4 pm).
Upon reaching Bagdogra, the pilots - Wing Commander Clarence Joseph D'Lima and Squadron Leader Mathew Cyriac committed to proceed to Jorhat. The airport was enveloped in darkness and was under a cloud cover. But they had with them a very competent Navigator - Wing Commander Joginder Singh, who successfully directed the pilots to Jorhat airport.
When they descended into Jorhat (about 100 minutes after take off from Delhi) and broke through the cloud cover, the pilot could see the runway ahead. But Wing Commander D'Lima realized that the aircraft was positioned slightly 'off' the runway, slightly high and too near the runway.
The pilot decided to 'go around' which means abort landing, fly over the runway, gain height, turn back and come in for fresh approach for landing, this time calculating more precisely the distance, direction and alignment of the aircraft with the runway. The procedure is called a 'timed circuit' (each leg - flying out of the runway, turning right or left, then turning in the opposite direction of the runway, is timed precisely and the same time periods used to turn right or left again twice, to align again to the runway for landing).
What probably happened was that with the wind factor, the aircraft had been pushed away farther than estimated before it turned around to align itself for landing. Since the pilot thought that they were nearer to the runway than they actually were, the aircraft was at lower height than optimal.
At this juncture there seemed to be another critical oversight. The two altimeters in the aircraft had not been re-set to show the altitude relative to the airport height rather than altitude above sea level.
Lastly, the flaps and landing gear had been dropped for landing, and the aircraft was absolutely horizontal while approaching the runway. This, results in very limited forward visibility from the cockpit. To complicate matters further, there was total darkness all around. No one in the aircraft realized that they were too low to make it to the runway.
The Crash
The front part of the aircraft hit a tall 'keekar' tree. The nose of the aircraft was ripped apart especially from below. Everything from the bottom part of the cockpit fell open. The first to be thrown out of the aircraft was Wing Commander D'Lima, who fell about 50 meters from the tree, followed by Wing Commander Joginder Singh. Mathew Cryiac, Arora and Sankar were the last to be thrown out - all fell in a heap.
The aircraft continued to descend, and landed on a bamboo cultivation, which completely cushioned the impact. It slid a few meters and came to a halt.
The time was 7.42 pm. The aircraft had crashed a few hundred meters short of the runway.
By sheer luck, all those either at the back of the aircraft or seated on the right side, were saved. This included Flt Lt. Raveendran who had moved towards the rear of the aircraft seconds before the crash, and Kantibhai Desai, who was seated on the left side,but decided to move to the right, again just seconds before. The Prime Minister and others were seated in positions where there was virtually no impact.
The surviving crew were the first to react. They threw open the doors and evacuated everyone to safety. Flt Lt. Raveendran and one Corporal Upadhyaya then walked about 4 kms till reached the Flight Control and alerted them. By then, the airport was sure the aircraft had crashed, but had no idea where or how far.
The Prime Minister, his son, a Chief Minister, and a senior Police Officer along with 4 crew members actually walked out of the crash and lived to tell the tale !
Conclusion
Some of the questions that come to mind are:
1. When the cut off time to land at Jorhat was 4 pm, why was a decision taken to proceed to Jorhat when the take off time itself was 5 pm?
2. Upon reaching Bagdogra, it was clear that the weather was marginal in the Brahmaputra valley. Why did the pilot commit to descend and land instead of diverting to Kolkata?
3. Why did Jorhat airport give permission to the incoming aircraft to land?
I am sure the Court of Enquiry would have found the answers to all of these.
While the passengers and some crew member had a miraculous escape from the crash, it was tragic that the Indian Air Force lost some its best aviators who displayed dedication to duty till the last moments. Those crew members that perished were
Wing Commander Clarence Joseph D' Lima
Wing Commander Joginder Singh
Squadron Leader Mathew Cyriac
Squadron Leader VVS Sankar
Flight Lt. OP Arora
A BIG Salute to them !
PS
In remembrance for those who sacrificed their lives 43 years ago, a bicycle expedition was organised from Jorhat to Delhi, in early 2020, consisting of 13 Air Warriors from the Air HQ Communications Squadron.
With factual inputs from
1. https://tkstales.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/754/
2. http://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-tupolev-tu-124k-jorhat-5-killed
*****
Comments
Post a Comment