Former vice-chief of air staff, Air Marshal Gokhale, points to control system problems as likely cause.
Former vice-chief of air staff, Air Marshal (retd) Bhushan Gokhale, said there was no need for alarm bells to start ringing following the crash of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Sukhoi-30 MkI fighter jet near Pune on Tuesday.
Expressing concern over the crash, Gokhale said, “Prima facie, the cause for the crash points to problems encountered with the control systems of the aircraft.”
The former IAF vice-chief felt the “technical snag” that the ill-fated aircraft is said to have encountered could point to problems in the control system of the aircraft. The control system comprises the auto pilot mechanism, the fly-by-wire system and other
mechanical and electrical systems.
Gokhale, who spoke to DNA at his Pune residence, said that the Sukhoi-30 MkI fighter jet was the mainstay of the IAF with as many as seven squadrons in operation across the country. The multi-role aircraft has been in operation for the last 14 years.
“This is the third accident in 14 years. The fighter jet has had a good safety record. It has successfully flown two of our presidents, has taken part in air shows in the US, where several Su-30 MkIs flew non-stop for 12 hours, and even participated in mid-air refuelling,” Gokhale noted.
According to him, several aircraft like the F16s and F18s, which are in the same league as the Su-30 MkIs, and used by other air forces of the world, had crashed in recent times.
Referring to media reports that the Su-30 MkI squadrons across the country have been grounded, Gokhale said, “It is wrong to say that the squadrons have been ‘grounded’. The better term to use is ‘maintenance pause’. Each and every Su-30 MkI will now
be checked thoroughly. This procedure will take a few weeks.” Explaining the steps that will be taken by the IAF to study the crash, Gokhale said, “The two pilots’
versions will be documented, the ‘black box’ details will be studied, the maintenance records of the aircraft will be analysed. The reports of the earlier two Su-30 MkI accidents in 2009 will also be studied before arriving at a conclusion.”
According to him, a team from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and a Sukhoi design team from Russia will also be summoned to discuss the accident. “It is very important for the IAF to restore the confidence in the minds of fighter pilots, and in the minds of the general public, at the earliest. The IAF, therefore, takes every crash very seriously,” Gokhale said.
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