Rajnath Singh confronts questions from relatives of BSF plane crash victis

"Sir, why does the soldier's family have to cry every time?" said a young woman, who  had to be held back as she aimed a stream of questions at the silent home minister.

 

Nine BSF and one Sashastra Seema Bal personnel were killed when the B 200 Super King crashed through the boundary wall of the Delhi airport.

"Why sir? Why wasn't it a VIP plane? Why were they given such an old plane? It was an old aircraft. This is not right. Sir, please answer me. No, I want an answer right now," she wept.

The 22-year-old Beechcraft crashed moments after it took off for Ranchi at around 9.45 am on Tuesday. Reports suggest that the pilot had noticed a technical snag after starting the engine but was told to continue with the flight.

The pilot, Deputy Commandant Bhagwati Prasad Bhatt of the BSF, diverted the aircraft from populated areas to prevent any civilian deaths.


 His co-pilot, Captain Rajesh Shivrain was the only officer of the border guarding force, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) working in the BSF air wing.

Captain Shivrain's family has alleged that the aircraft was old.

BSF Director General DK Pathak denied the charge, saying: "The aircraft was air worthy and had been used extensively during the recent DG Conference to ferry officers. It is incorrect to say that plane was old, the world over, aircraft fly for 40-45 years."