On the morning of February 1, 2019, I had a firsthand experience of a tragic incident. It began as a routine Friday morning when I decided to grab a cup of tea, accompanied by my colleague Harini Shivakumar, who had missed her breakfast. We headed to a nearby shop next to our office, where Harini ordered a dosa while I got tea for myself.
While standing there, my attention was abruptly diverted by the presence of my friend Raghu from Aditya Brilla. However, my gaze shifted beyond him to a scene that caught me off guard. A sudden and jarring noise echoed through the air, followed by a billowing cloud of black smoke and rapidly growing fire, reminiscent of a mushroom, with a large fabric-like object amidst the chaos.
Without wasting a moment, I instinctively rushed towards the source of the commotion, realizing that a plane crash had taken place. As I reached the area, which was engulfed in flames, another young and active resident named Manunath from Yemlur village joined me in the search for survivors. With caution, we maneuvered through the blaze, mindful of the burning aviation fuel and the potential hazards that could trigger further explosions. Soon, more people joined our efforts to locate any possible survivors.
In the midst of the chaos, I managed to contact my colleague Arjun, sharing the unfolding situation with him. He warned me about the potential presence of explosives and the importance of national security. Despite the inherent risks, we persisted in our search, hoping against hope to find any survivors. Eventually, we discovered a motionless figure lying on the ground, indicating the tragic loss of life. Simultaneously, another group of individuals found the lifeless body of the second pilot. It was a heartbreaking sight, as both pilots had succumbed to their injuries.
As the news spread, a considerable number of personnel from the Air Force arrived to assist with the situation. Together, we coordinated efforts to ensure the safety and transport of the fallen pilots. This involved breaking down a nearby wall and carefully transferring them to the awaiting ambulance on the road. It was a somber and poignant moment, witnessing the devastating consequences of the accident.
Subsequent news reports revealed that the crash involved a Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft that was on a test sortie at HAL Airport. Tragically, both pilots, Squadron Leaders Sameer Abrol and Siddhartha Negi from the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) of the Indian Air Force (IAF), lost their lives. The pilots had ejected from the aircraft, but unfortunately, their parachutes caught fire, leading to fatal burns. The Mirage 2000, upgraded by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was on an acceptance sortie when the accident occurred.
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