Lt Kiran Shekhawat

Indian Navy Dornier Crash: 24th March 2015

During Mar 2015, Lt Kiran Shekhawat was serving with Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 310, a maritime reconnaissance squadron of the Indian Navy based at Goa. It was one of the most decorated naval air squadrons, with a distinguished history. Initially equipped with French Breguet Br. 1050 Alizé aircraft, the squadron later operated German-origin Dornier Do-228 aircraft from INS Hansa, in Dabolim, Goa. The Dornier Do-228 aircraft inducted in 1991 in the squadron was configured for Maritime Patrol (MP) and Electronic warfare roles. At the time of their induction, the aircraft were fitted with MEL Super Marec 360º Search radar, sonobuoys, AES 210 ESM, and direction-finding systems. Subsequently, HAL's modifications to the airframe included four underwing hardpoints, to accommodate additional external payload including wing-mounted 7.62mm gun pods. In 1998, GPS units and new ELINT equipment were installed resulting in a major capability upgrade for the squadron’s Dorniers. During Op Vijay, from May to July 1999, the "Cobras"  carried out MR/ELINT missions in close coordination with the Army and the Air Force. This was the first time the Dornier was deployed as an EW platform in support of the Army and the Air Force for integrated ELINT operations. The Cobras also played a vital part in the 2001-2002 India-Pakistan stand-off following the Indian Parliament attack by the suspected terrorists on Dec 13, 2001. Deploying at the commencement of 'Op Parakram' in January 2002, the squadron, with aircraft painted in a low visibility grey color scheme, was detached to Naliya to carry out more ELINT operations. On 24 Mar 2015, the squadron undertook one more such mission with Commander Nikhil Joshi, co-pilot Lt Abhinav Nagori, and Lt Kiran Shekhawat, as an observer. Lt Kiran was operating in a combat role as an observer in the tactical sorties flown over the ocean for tracking and engaging hostile ships violating the country’s maritime boundaries.

The aircrew completed the operational ground checks and the aircraft took off from Goa as planned on 24 Mar 2015. It was a night sortie and was uneventful in the initial part of the mission. At about 10 pm the Dornier aircraft transmitted the message to the Air Traffic Control - "Ops Normal". But as the Dornier was trying to gain height after flying as low as 50 feet, a crucial part of the exercise, it disappeared from the screen of the Naval Air Traffic Controller on duty at that time at the Goa airport. The Naval ATC alerted the air traffic control at the Mumbai, Mangalore, and Trivandrum airports to see if they could trace the plane. Within 40 minutes, the first ship and helicopters of the Indian Navy left the Goa harbour to search for the missing Dornier. Eventually, it was confirmed that the aircraft had crashed about 25nm off the coast of Goa at about 22:08 hours. The body of Lt Kiran Shekhawat and that of the co-pilot Lt Abhinav Nagori were recovered two days after the crash, while the pilot Commander Nikhil Joshi was rescued by a fisherman. The wreckage of the Dornier was found about 60 m under the sea at the south-west of Goa coast. The body of Lieutenant Shekhawat was found inside the fuselage of the aircraft. Lt Kiran Shekhawat was a brave and committed soldier who became the first Naval woman officer to die in harness. Lt Kiran Shekhawat will always be remembered for her service to the nation and her story will continue to inspire future generations of India.

• A Shaheed Park has been developed in the honour of Lt Kiran Shekhawat on a 2 acres land at Kurthala (Nuh) in Haryana.
• A life-size statue of Lt Kiran Shekhawat has been installed in the Shaheed Park at Kurthala.
•  A 7.5 Kilometres of road stretch between Chechera and Village Bighwali has been named after Lt Kiran Shekhawat in her honour.
• Lt Kiran Shekhawat’s family has established an organisation in March 2016 named “Lt Kiran Shekhawat Foundation“ to work for weaker sections of society and to organize periodical events with an aim to inspire the young generation.

• A tribute by her father Hony Lt Vijender Singh Shekhawat on the 4th anniversary of her martyrdom:

   

   

  It has been four years since my daughter, Kiran attained martyrdom, but she still shines in our lives, true to her name “Kiran” meaning “Sunray” and illuminates our home. A lovable child right from her childhood, Kiran was liked by one and all in the neighborhood. On the outward, she had a very cheerful disposition but also had resoluteness and toughness of a soldier from inside. Her soldierly qualities came to the fore in the later part of her life.

   

  As a daughter’s father, I treated her with kid gloves initially but my perception about her began to change after she cleared the Service Selection Board (SSB) and got selected to join the Indian Navy. During her initial training, I was worried about her tough training schedule and wondered how she would cope with it. But when she returned from her training and I was looking for a porter on the railway station to carry her luggage, she was all ready in no time with four bags and said, “Chalo” without waiting for any help. Her confidence coupled with the disarming smile filled me with pride and happiness. During her first posting, I happened to meet her Commanding Officer, who was all praise for her and told me, “Your daughter is professionally very competent and stands well above her contemporaries”. My eyes welled up with tears of delight and I thanked God for blessing me with a daughter like Kiran. I realized that day that she was cut out for bigger things in life.

   

  However, destiny had something else in store for her and she was martyred in an air crash on 24th Mar 2015 and became the first woman officer of Indian Navy to die in harness. The air crash besides Lt Kiran Shekhawat also claimed the life of Lt Abhinav Nagori. I salute and pay my respect to Lt Abhinav Nagori too, for his supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. My daughter, Kiran showed how a daughter could be an epitome of courage and be a soldier that the nation could be proud of. The takeaway from Kiran’s story—the parents should never underestimate the capabilities of their daughters, as given the right exposure and support they could become shining stars and pride of the nation like “Kiran”.

   

  Jai Hind!