In a remarkable display of courage and humanity, three villagers in Prayagraj rescued two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots after their aircraft crash-landed in a pond following a technical malfunction.
The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon near KP Inter College, when an IAF Microlite aircraft developed a technical fault during a routine sortie. The two-seater aircraft was returning to Bamrauli after circling the Sangam area when the pilots detected the malfunction around 12:15 pm.
Emergency Landing Saves Lives
Displaying presence of mind, the pilots steered the aircraft away from densely populated areas and carried out an emergency landing in a water hyacinth-filled pond, deploying the aircraftโs parachute system to reduce impact. A loud sound, described by locals as similar to a rocket crash, alerted nearby residents.
Seeing the aircraft go down, Lal Sahab Nishad, Pankaj Sonkar, and Alok Yadav rushed to the spot without hesitation. Noticing the pilots waving for help from inside the partially submerged aircraft, the three men jumped into the pond despite thick hyacinth, slush, and difficult conditions.
Brave Rescue Against All Odds
The rescuers struggled through the weeds to reach the aircraft. The door was jammed due to entanglement with vegetation, making the rescue more difficult. After nearly 10 minutes of intense effort, they managed to open the door and safely pull both pilots out, bringing them to the pondโs edge.
Overwhelmed with emotion, the rescued pilots hugged their saviours as onlookers applauded the heroic act. The pilots were later shifted to hospital for medical evaluation and are reported to be safe and stable.
Swift Response by Authorities
Within minutes of the incident, an IAF helicopter arrived to survey the crash site, followed by an Air Force rescue team and personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). By evening, efforts were underway to recover the aircraft from the pond.
An IAF spokesperson confirmed that the aircraft had taken off for a routine inspection flight and was forced to make an emergency landing due to a technical issue. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the malfunction.
A Stark Contrast to the Past
The incident has drawn attention as a powerful example of community spirit. Locals recalled a similar Microlite crash in 1993 in Prayagrajโs Rajrooppur area, where both pilots lost their lives after the aircraft caught fire. This time, swift decision-making by the pilots and the bravery of civilians ensured a far more fortunate outcome.
The actions of Lal Sahab, Pankaj, and Alok have since been widely praised, standing as a reminder that ordinary citizens can become extraordinary heroes when lives are at stake.
