NEW DELHI, July 10: The two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots who died in a crash of a Jaguar fighter jet near Churu in Rajasthan a day ago have been identified as Sqn Ldr Lokender and Flt Lt Rishi Raj Singh, officials said on Thursday.
The IAF has also said that a court of inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.
The names of the two pilots were released by the IAF on Thursday.
In a brief statement, the IAF said: “The pilots who attained ‘veergati’ in yesterday’s Jaguar crash were — Sqn Ldr Lokender and Flt Lt Rishi Raj Singh.” However, it does not mention the age of the two pilots.
IAF PILOT BECAME A FATHER A MONTH AGO
Squadron Leader Lokender, one of the two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots who were killed in a crash of a Jaguar fighter jet near Churu in Rajasthan on Wednesday, had become father a month ago and the family in Haryana had been in celebration mode before the tragedy struck. The mortal remains of Lokender were consigned to flames with full military honours.Also present at the funeral were his wife and a month-old son. The infant was carried in his arms by Lokender’s brother Gyanendra as the funeral pyre was lit.
Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Dharmender Singh was also present at the cremation.
Some of Lokender’s family members, who spoke to reporters in Rohtak on Thursday, said the family was celebrating the birth of the pilot’s son who was born exactly a month ago on June 10, but no one knew what fate had in store.
A function had been organised by Lokender’s family on June 30 in connection with the birth of his child which he had attended. He rejoined the duty the next day, his family members said.
DREAMS OF BECOMING A FIGHTER PILOT SHATTERED
Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh, who died in a crash of a Jaguar fighter plane during a routine sortie near Churu in Rajasthan on Wednesday, was fascinated by fighter planes from childhood and dreamt of becoming a fighter pilot, his family member said. ”He (Rishi Raj Singh) was brilliant in studies and after completing his schooling from Jodhpur, he appeared in the entrance examination for NDA. After selection, he went on to join NDA in Pune and chose the Air Force to realise his dream to become a flyer,” Pratap Singh, a family member told reporters on Thursday. (PTI)
