In a display of remarkable bravery and quick thinking, three villagers in Prayagraj sprang into action to rescue two pilots of the Indian Air Force after their Microlite aircraft made an emergency landing in a pond following a technical malfunction.
The incident unfolded on Wednesday afternoon near KP Inter College. The aircraft was on a routine sortie, returning to Bamrauli after circumnavigating the Sangam area. Around 12:15 PM, the pilots detected a significant technical issue with the two-seater plane, prompting urgent measures to avert disaster.
In an impressive demonstration of their skills and presence of mind, the pilots maneuvered the aircraft away from densely populated zones and executed an emergency landing in a pond thickly blanketed with water hyacinth. They opted to deploy the aircraft’s parachute system to soften the landing, which ultimately played a crucial role in their survival. Local residents reported hearing a loud noise at the time of the landing, likening it to a rocket crash, which drew their attention to the scene.
As the stricken aircraft went down, three local men—Lal Sahab Nishad, Pankaj Sonkar, and Alok Yadav—did not hesitate to rush to the site. They spotted the pilots, trapped and waving for help from within the half-submerged aircraft. Without thinking for their own safety amid thick vegetation and muddy waters, the trio plunged into the pond.
Despite the challenging conditions, including the aircraft being entangled in weeds and the door being jammed, the rescuers persisted for nearly ten minutes. Their efforts paid off when they finally managed to open the door and pull both pilots to safety, bringing them to the pond’s edge.
The emotional reunion witnessed as the pilots expressed gratitude, hugging their saviors, was met with applause from onlookers. Following the rescue, the pilots were transferred to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation, where they were reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities responded swiftly after the crash, with an IAF helicopter arriving on the scene shortly thereafter. An Air Force rescue team, followed by personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), quickly began their assessments. By evening, plans were in motion to recover the aircraft from the pond.
An IAF spokesperson confirmed that the Microlite had been on a routine inspection flight and that a Court of Inquiry had been ordered to investigate the cause of the technical malfunction.
This incident has underscored the spirit of community and heroism, drawing comparisons to a tragic event in 1993, when another Microlite crash in Prayagraj’s Rajrooppur area resulted in the loss of both pilots’ lives after their aircraft caught fire. In stark contrast, the swift actions of the pilots and the courage displayed by the villagers this time saved lives.
The heroic deeds of Lal Sahab, Pankaj, and Alok have been widely praised, serving as a poignant reminder that ordinary individuals can rise to extraordinary occasions when the lives of others are at stake.
