Indian Air Force recent acquired C-130J crashed near the Chambal river in Rajasthan’s Karauli district. The plane crashed during training with another aircraft. The crash has baffled the force. Experienced pilots said an accident of this nature was almost improbable unless something very unusual happened aboard the aircraft. A pilot speculated that either the crew was incapacitated or a fire may have broken out in the aircraft.
The C-130J took off from Agra along with another aircraft for a tactical exercise at 10am. Around 11am, it nosedived into Gola Ghat near an alligator breeding area in the Chambal river. Local sources said the aircraft seemed to be on fire, and the pilots probably diverted the plane from the village towards the river to avoid casualties on ground.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said it was a sad moment for the IAF and incidents like this were “painful reminders of the inherent risks which our brave air warriors face in the execution of our daily mission”.In the last three years of its operations, we have exploited capabilities of this aircraft during the Uttarakhand floods and landing at DBO (Daulat Beg Oldi), which is the highest landing ground in the world. Needless to say, the best pilots have been chosen to fly these aircraft,” he said.
The accident has sent shockwaves through the IAF and the government as the C-130Js are among the latest aircraft with the force and among the most agile and safe planes operating in the world. The IAF started inducting C-130J in February 2011, and half a dozen of them are in service. It has placed an order for another six of them.
Src- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/5-die-as-IAFs-Hercules-crashes-mysteriously/articleshow/32867170.cms