In the last week, a trainer Mirage Aircraft crashed at HAL Airport in Bangalore killing its two pilots. (Link: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/2-pilots-killed-as-upgraded-mirage-trainer-crashes-after-takeoff/articleshow/67799191.cms)
This Aircraft was on a test ride out of the factory after its upgrade. It failed to take off properly. What went wrong is not known yet. Though the newspapers report that a detailed inquiry is ordered, I wonder why neither HAL nor Indian Air Force took responsibility and apologize to the society for failing in their duty? Are they waiting for final report to fix a blame on one party?
Though they will formally make someone a scapegoat, this incident raises more questions. Is HAL doing the right job of inspecting before they let the aircraft hit the runway? Why IAF is not furious for losing both Aircraft and its finest men? Why does not defense ministry pay attention to this?
If we let this pass as one-off situation, it is going to haunt us again and again. Tax payers fund the Govt. to take care of country's defense. And when an expensive aircraft, worth a few hundred crores crashes and two of bright young dedicated men lose lives, no one comes forward accepting the responsibility and promising to correct the mistake. Will it motivate the new generation to join IAF? What kind of credibility HAL sports? Why does Govt. remain tolerant of both? If no one pays for it, how things will change? Mera Bharat Mahan.
