Disappointingly, within ten minutes after taking off on a training sortie, an Indian Air Force (IAF) Pilatus trainer aircraft vanished from radar contact. It had taken off from the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. IAF helicopters and ground forces immediately began a large search and rescue operation.
Eventually, the plane's wreckage was discovered in an isolated area close to Toopran in the Medak district. Sadly, it was discovered that both of the pilots—Squadron Leader Abhimanyu Rai and Corporal Vu Van Thein, a Vietnam People's Air Force member attached to the academy—had passed away.
While armed police guard the accident site, the two pilots' mortal corpses have been moved for post-mortem examination. A Court of Inquiry has been established to look into what caused the mishap.
This tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the perils that come with flying and the IAF personnel's unshakable passion and commitment to serving the country despite these risks. Squadron Leader Abhimanyu Rai and Corporal Vu Van Thein's deaths are devastating to the IAF.
