In an unfortunate incident on Sunday morning, a Navy glider which was on a routine training sortie crashed and 2 persons who were in the glider died. The incident happened at about 7 on Sunday morning near the Thoppumpady bridge.
Lt Rajeev Jha and Petty Officer Sunil Kumar Poela, who were in the glider, were recovered from the crash site and shifted to INHS Sanjivani but their lives could not be saved. They were declared brought dead.
The glider is a small plane used for training sortie and only 2 people can be accommodated. The glider took off from INS Garuda and crashed near Thoppumpady bridge near the naval base.
Eye witnesses say there was a delay in rescue operations. The mangled remains of the glider has been removed from the spot.
A Court of Inquiry has been ordered by the Southern Naval Command into the incident.
