During a training sortie, a MiG-21 plane of the Indian Air Force has crashed in the state of Rajasthan on Friday night. The pilot, who was identified as Wing Commander Harshit Sinha, was killed in the mishap, which occurred in Jaisalmer, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said. &nbsp;

The aircraft went down in the Desert National Park area, which comes under the Sam police station. Police have reached the spot, Jaisalmer SP Ajay Singh told PTI. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/iit-kanpur-study-tells-when-third-covid-19-wave-in-india-may-peak-439713" hreflang="en">IIT-Kanpur study tells when third COVID-19 wave in India may peak</a>

On Twitter, the IAF, said, "This evening, around 8.30 pm, a MiG-21 aircraft of IAF met with a flying accident in the western sector during a training sortie. An inquiry is being ordered." &nbsp;

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This evening, around 8:30 pm, a MiG-21 aircraft of IAF met with a flying accident in the western sector during a training sortie. Further details are awaited. 
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"With deep sorrow, IAF conveys the sad demise of Wing Commander Harshit Sinha in the flying accident this evening and stands firmly with the family of the braveheart," it stated. &nbsp;

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The plane crashed in sand dunes near Sudasari, said Sam police station SHO Dalpat Singh. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-us-22-foreign-defence-ministers-meet-to-take-place-in-3rd-week-of-january-439716" hreflang="en">India, US 2+2 foreign &amp; defence ministers meet to take place in 3rd week of January</a>

According to an eyewitness, the plane burst into flames before hitting the ground. The eyewitness lives in a hamlet near the Desert National Park. &nbsp;

Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh and collector Ashish Modi have reached the spot. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

During a training sortie, a MiG-21 plane of the Indian Air Force has crashed in the state of Rajasthan on Friday night. The pilot, who was identified as Wing Commander Harshit Sinha, was killed in the mishap, which occurred in Jaisalmer, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said.

During a training sortie, a MiG-21 plane of the Indian Air Force has crashed in the state of Rajasthan on Friday night. The pilot, who was identified as Wing Commander Harshit Sinha, was killed in the mishap, which occurred in Jaisalmer, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said. The aircraft went down in the Desert National Park area, which comes under the Sam police station. Police have reached the spot, Jaisalmer SP Ajay Singh told PTI. Also Read: IIT-Kanpur study tells when third COVID-19 wave in India may peak On Twitter, the IAF, said, "This evening, around 8.30 pm, a MiG-21 aircraft of IAF met with a flying accident in the western sector during a training sortie. An inquiry is being ordered." This evening, around 8:30 pm, a MiG-21 aircraft of IAF met with a flying accident in the western sector during a training sortie. Further details are awaited. An inquiry is being ordered. — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 24, 2021 × "With deep sorrow, IAF conveys the sad demise of Wing Commander Harshit Sinha in the flying accident this evening and stands firmly with the family of the braveheart," it stated. With deep sorrow, IAF conveys the sad demise of Wing Commander Harshit Sinha in the flying accident this evening and stands firmly with the family of the braveheart. — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 24, 2021 × The plane crashed in sand dunes near Sudasari, said Sam police station SHO Dalpat Singh. Also Read: India, US 2+2 foreign & defence ministers meet to take place in 3rd week of January According to an eyewitness, the plane burst into flames before hitting the ground. The eyewitness lives in a hamlet near the Desert National Park. Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh and collector Ashish Modi have reached the spot. (With inputs from agencies)

Pilot killed in IAF's MiG-21 plane crash in India's Jaisalmer

The word ‘daredevil’ doesn’t even do justice when it is used to describe the stunt performed by a former Chilean pilot.

Sebastián “Ardilla” Álvarez, a former Chilean Air Force pilot whose nickname means “Squirrel”, recently became the first person to fly in and out of an active volcano, CNN reported.

However, this is not the surprising factor.

That Álvarez was in a wingsuit while flying through an active volcano potentially makes him the first person in history to have even attempted such a feat.

The whole dramatic stunt was posted on YouTube, showing the 36-year-old accomplishing the death-defying feat last month at Villarrica, a volcano in Chile—which has been dubbed “the Devil’s House” by the indigenous Mapuche tribe for its frequent eruptions.

The aim was to show the beauty of Chile and to push the limits of the flare manoeuvre, a key component in the discipline of&nbsp;wingsuit flying, Alvarez said.

“This is by far the most extreme project I’ve ever done,” Álvarez told CNN. “That’s for sure. Especially because of all of the factors — it was an active volcano, it was at high altitude, cold, windy and so there were a lot of things that I needed to take care of.

Leaping from a helicopter at more than 3,500 meters in altitude, Álvarez would attempt to use the wingsuit to reach speeds of more than 280 km/h and then fly into and out of the 200-meter wide crater of the volcano.

It took Álvarez more than a year to prepare for the stunt. He said that he gradually got to know the volcano – its rhythms, the intensity of the smoke columns, the smell of the sulphur, the wind speed, the weather, the air space and so much more.

“Mentally, it was to me really hard because, again, my mind doesn’t want to be there, but you need to kind of force it to make it happen. I really enjoy doing these projects because I really like to push the sport a little bit more,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

The word ‘daredevil’ doesn’t even do justice when it is used to describe the stunt performed by a former Chilean pilot. Sebastián “Ardilla” Álvarez, a former Chilean Air Force pilot whose nickname means “Squirrel”, recently became the first person to fly in and out of an active volcano, CNN reported.

The word ‘daredevil’ doesn’t even do justice when it is used to describe the stunt performed by a former Chilean pilot. Sebastián “Ardilla” Álvarez, a former Chilean Air Force pilot whose nickname means “Squirrel”, recently became the first person to fly in and out of an active volcano, CNN reported. However, this is not the surprising factor. That Álvarez was in a wingsuit while flying through an active volcano potentially makes him the first person in history to have even attempted such a feat. The whole dramatic stunt was posted on YouTube, showing the 36-year-old accomplishing the death-defying feat last month at Villarrica, a volcano in Chile—which has been dubbed “the Devil’s House” by the indigenous Mapuche tribe for its frequent eruptions. The aim was to show the beauty of Chile and to push the limits of the flare manoeuvre, a key component in the discipline of wingsuit flying, Alvarez said. “This is by far the most extreme project I’ve ever done,” Álvarez told CNN. “That’s for sure. Especially because of all of the factors — it was an active volcano, it was at high altitude, cold, windy and so there were a lot of things that I needed to take care of. Leaping from a helicopter at more than 3,500 meters in altitude, Álvarez would attempt to use the wingsuit to reach speeds of more than 280 km/h and then fly into and out of the 200-meter wide crater of the volcano. It took Álvarez more than a year to prepare for the stunt. He said that he gradually got to know the volcano – its rhythms, the intensity of the smoke columns, the smell of the sulphur, the wind speed, the weather, the air space and so much more. “Mentally, it was to me really hard because, again, my mind doesn’t want to be there, but you need to kind of force it to make it happen. I really enjoy doing these projects because I really like to push the sport a little bit more,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Ex-Chilean pilot becomes first person to fly in and out of active volcano

The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and Sarang Helicopter Display Teams showcased "superior flying skills" at the Dubai Air Show on Sunday. Here's an exclusive conversation with the IAF Tejas pilot.

Dubai Air Show: WION in an exclusive conversation with IAF Tejas pilot

It began as a chant at a NASCAR race. It became an inside joke among many Republicans that spread to T-shirts and the floor of Congress. And now it has entangled Southwest Airlines in the nation’s political tussles.

The phrase “Let’s go Brandon,” which is understood to be code for swearing at President Joe Biden, was uttered over the intercom by a Southwest pilot during a flight Friday, a reporter for The Associated Press wrote in an article about the spread of the phrase. The reporter, Colleen Long, who was on that flight, added that it prompted “audible gasps from some passengers.”

As word of the remark spread on social media, many threatened to boycott the airline. Others pledged their support to Southwest because of the pilot’s remark. Southwest apologized to customers Sunday and said it was conducting an internal investigation.

“Southwest does not condone employees sharing their personal political opinions while on the job,” the company said in a statement emailed to The New York Times. The airline would not say if the pilot had been suspended for making the remark, adding that it does not comment on an employee’s status.

The viral moment began in early October at a NASCAR race in Alabama that was broadcast on NBC. As a crowd appeared to be cheering on the driver Brandon Brown, an NBC reporter interviewing Brown suggested that people were chanting “Let’s go, Brandon,” but it became clear that they were actually saying a four-letter epithet and then “Joe Biden.”

Since then, the phrase has exploded in popularity: Lawmakers, musicians and former President Donald Trump’s campaign PAC all have used it with a joking tone.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the phrase on Twitter on Oct. 22. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., said it on the House floor during a speech criticizing the Biden administration.

Billboard reported that artist Loza Alexander made its Hot 100 chart with a song titled “Let’s Go Brandon.”

But others, including many Democrats, do not find the phrase funny. Twitter users who called for a boycott of Southwest said the airline should punish the pilot.

It began as a chant at a NASCAR race. It became an inside joke among many Republicans that spread to T-shirts and the floor of Congress. And now it has entangled Southwest Airlines in the nation’s political tussles.

It began as a chant at a NASCAR race. It became an inside joke among many Republicans that spread to T-shirts and the floor of Congress. And now it has entangled Southwest Airlines in the nation’s political tussles. The phrase “Let’s go Brandon,” which is understood to be code for swearing at President Joe Biden, was uttered over the intercom by a Southwest pilot during a flight Friday, a reporter for The Associated Press wrote in an article about the spread of the phrase. The reporter, Colleen Long, who was on that flight, added that it prompted “audible gasps from some passengers.” As word of the remark spread on social media, many threatened to boycott the airline. Others pledged their support to Southwest because of the pilot’s remark. Southwest apologized to customers Sunday and said it was conducting an internal investigation. “Southwest does not condone employees sharing their personal political opinions while on the job,” the company said in a statement emailed to The New York Times. The airline would not say if the pilot had been suspended for making the remark, adding that it does not comment on an employee’s status. The viral moment began in early October at a NASCAR race in Alabama that was broadcast on NBC. As a crowd appeared to be cheering on the driver Brandon Brown, an NBC reporter interviewing Brown suggested that people were chanting “Let’s go, Brandon,” but it became clear that they were actually saying a four-letter epithet and then “Joe Biden.” Since then, the phrase has exploded in popularity: Lawmakers, musicians and former President Donald Trump’s campaign PAC all have used it with a joking tone. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the phrase on Twitter on Oct. 22. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., said it on the House floor during a speech criticizing the Biden administration. Billboard reported that artist Loza Alexander made its Hot 100 chart with a song titled “Let’s Go Brandon.” But others, including many Democrats, do not find the phrase funny. Twitter users who called for a boycott of Southwest said the airline should punish the pilot.

Why a pilot is under investigation for saying ‘let’s go Brandon’

Having a sweet tooth can sometimes be of dire consequences, going by this odd development in Canada.

Residents in the town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan, were shaken after a bright red helicopter descended on the parking lot near the town’s only Dairy Queen.

Initially, some of them thought the chopper, which was painted the same colour as the province’s air ambulances, was on the scene for a medical emergency.

However, when the town’s mayor saw the passenger leave the restaurant with an ice cream cake, he realised the aircraft had a different objective all this while.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/international-youth-day-history-significance-and-this-years-theme-404794">Also read |&nbsp;International Youth Day: History, significance and this year's theme</a>

Mayor Al Jellicoe told CBC News, "Well, I thought somebody must be hungry". He added, "Initially, I thought that’s probably not the right thing to do".&nbsp;

Later, it was concluded that the entire mission was not an emergency and the 34-year-old pilot, who has not been named, was charged.

The man had a license to operate the helicopter but parked it in an illegal spot.

He is now facing one count of dangerous operation of an aircraft and is scheduled to appear in court on 7 September in the city of Melfort.

Having a sweet tooth can sometimes be of dire consequences, going by this odd development in Canada. Residents in the town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan, were shaken after a bright red helicopter descended on the parking lot near the town’s only Dairy Queen.

Having a sweet tooth can sometimes be of dire consequences, going by this odd development in Canada. Residents in the town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan, were shaken after a bright red helicopter descended on the parking lot near the town’s only Dairy Queen. Initially, some of them thought the chopper, which was painted the same colour as the province’s air ambulances, was on the scene for a medical emergency. However, when the town’s mayor saw the passenger leave the restaurant with an ice cream cake, he realised the aircraft had a different objective all this while. Also read | International Youth Day: History, significance and this year's theme Mayor Al Jellicoe told CBC News, "Well, I thought somebody must be hungry". He added, "Initially, I thought that’s probably not the right thing to do". Later, it was concluded that the entire mission was not an emergency and the 34-year-old pilot, who has not been named, was charged. The man had a license to operate the helicopter but parked it in an illegal spot. He is now facing one count of dangerous operation of an aircraft and is scheduled to appear in court on 7 September in the city of Melfort.

Sweet tooth trouble: Pilot charged after landing helicopter in Canada town centre to buy some ice cream cake

Afghan Air Force Major Dastagir Zamaray had grown so fearful of Taliban assassinations of off-duty forces in Kabul that he decided to sell his home to move to a safer pocket of Afghanistan's sprawling capital.

Instead of being greeted by a prospective buyer at his realtor's office earlier this year, the 41-year-old pilot was confronted by a gunman, who walked inside and, without a word, fatally shot the real estate agent in the mouth.

Zamaray reached for his sidearm but the gunman shot him in the head. The father of seven collapsed dead on his 14-year-old son, who had tagged along. The boy was spared, but barely speaks anymore, his family says.

Zamaray “only went there because he personally knew the realtor and thought it was safe," Samiullah Darman, his brother-in-law, told Reuters. "We didn’t know that he would never come back."

At least seven Afghan pilots, including Zamaray, have been assassinated off base in recent months, according to two senior Afghan government officials. This series of targeted killings, which haven't been previously reported, illustrate what US&nbsp;and Afghan officials believe is a deliberate Taliban effort to destroy one of Afghanistan's most valuable military assets: its corps of US- and NATO-trained military pilots.

In so doing, the Taliban, who have no air force, are looking to level the playing field as they press major ground offensives. The militants are quickly seizing territory once controlled by the US-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani, raising fears they could eventually try to topple Kabul.

Reuters confirmed the identities of two of the slain pilots through family members. It could not independently verify the names of the other five who were allegedly targeted.

In response to questions from Reuters, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the group had killed Zamaray, and that it had started a programme that will see Afghan Air Force pilots 'targeted and eliminated because all of them do bombardment against their people'.

Afghanistan's government has not publicly disclosed the number of pilots assassinated in targeted killings. The nation's Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. The Pentagon said it was aware of the deaths of several Afghan pilots in killings claimed by the Taliban, but declined comment on US&nbsp;intelligence and investigations.

Afghan military pilots are particularly attractive assassination targets, current and former US&nbsp;and Afghan officials say. They can strike Taliban forces massing for major attacks, shuttle commandos to missions and provide life-saving air cover for Afghan ground troops. Pilots take years to train and are hard to replace, representing an outsized blow to the country's defences with every loss.

Shoot-downs and accidents are ever-present risks. Yet these pilots often are most vulnerable in the streets of their own neighborhoods, where attackers can come from anywhere, said retired US&nbsp;Brigadier General David Hicks, who commanded the training effort for the Afghan Air Force from 2016 to 2017.

"Their lives were at much greater risk during that time (off base) than they were while they were flying combat missions," Hicks said.

Afghan Air Force Major Dastagir Zamaray had grown so fearful of Taliban assassinations of off-duty forces in Kabul that he decided to sell his home to move to a safer pocket of Afghanistan's sprawling capital.

Afghan Air Force Major Dastagir Zamaray had grown so fearful of Taliban assassinations of off-duty forces in Kabul that he decided to sell his home to move to a safer pocket of Afghanistan's sprawling capital. Instead of being greeted by a prospective buyer at his realtor's office earlier this year, the 41-year-old pilot was confronted by a gunman, who walked inside and, without a word, fatally shot the real estate agent in the mouth. Zamaray reached for his sidearm but the gunman shot him in the head. The father of seven collapsed dead on his 14-year-old son, who had tagged along. The boy was spared, but barely speaks anymore, his family says. Zamaray “only went there because he personally knew the realtor and thought it was safe," Samiullah Darman, his brother-in-law, told Reuters. "We didn’t know that he would never come back." At least seven Afghan pilots, including Zamaray, have been assassinated off base in recent months, according to two senior Afghan government officials. This series of targeted killings, which haven't been previously reported, illustrate what US and Afghan officials believe is a deliberate Taliban effort to destroy one of Afghanistan's most valuable military assets: its corps of US- and NATO-trained military pilots. In so doing, the Taliban, who have no air force, are looking to level the playing field as they press major ground offensives. The militants are quickly seizing territory once controlled by the US-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani, raising fears they could eventually try to topple Kabul. Reuters confirmed the identities of two of the slain pilots through family members. It could not independently verify the names of the other five who were allegedly targeted. In response to questions from Reuters, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the group had killed Zamaray, and that it had started a programme that will see Afghan Air Force pilots 'targeted and eliminated because all of them do bombardment against their people'. Afghanistan's government has not publicly disclosed the number of pilots assassinated in targeted killings. The nation's Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. The Pentagon said it was aware of the deaths of several Afghan pilots in killings claimed by the Taliban, but declined comment on US intelligence and investigations. Afghan military pilots are particularly attractive assassination targets, current and former US and Afghan officials say. They can strike Taliban forces massing for major attacks, shuttle commandos to missions and provide life-saving air cover for Afghan ground troops. Pilots take years to train and are hard to replace, representing an outsized blow to the country's defences with every loss. Shoot-downs and accidents are ever-present risks. Yet these pilots often are most vulnerable in the streets of their own neighborhoods, where attackers can come from anywhere, said retired US Brigadier General David Hicks, who commanded the training effort for the Afghan Air Force from 2016 to 2017. "Their lives were at much greater risk during that time (off base) than they were while they were flying combat missions," Hicks said.

Afghan pilots assassinated by Taliban as US withdraws

A senior fighter pilot Squadron Leader Abhinav Choudhary of the Indian Air Force died on Friday after a MiG-21 Bison fighter jet crashed near Moga in Punjab in the wee hours. 
 
The aircraft was on a routine training sortie when the accident happened, IAF officials said.

"There was an aircraft accident last night involving a Bison aircraft of the IAF in the western sector. The pilot, Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary, sustained fatal injuries. IAF condoles the tragic loss and stands firmly with the bereaved family," the Indian Air Forces said on Twitter.

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There was an aircraft accident last night involving a Bison aircraft of IAF in the western sector. The pilot, Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary, sustained fatal injuries. IAF condoles the tragic loss and stands firmly with the bereaved family.
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This is the third crash of a MiG-21 aircraft in 2021. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.

(With inputs from agencies)

A senior fighter pilot Squadron Leader Abhinav Choudhary of the Indian Air Force died on Friday after a MiG-21 Bison fighter jet crashed near Moga in Punjab in the wee hours.

A senior fighter pilot Squadron Leader Abhinav Choudhary of the Indian Air Force died on Friday after a MiG-21 Bison fighter jet crashed near Moga in Punjab in the wee hours. The aircraft was on a routine training sortie when the accident happened, IAF officials said. "There was an aircraft accident last night involving a Bison aircraft of the IAF in the western sector. The pilot, Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary, sustained fatal injuries. IAF condoles the tragic loss and stands firmly with the bereaved family," the Indian Air Forces said on Twitter. There was an aircraft accident last night involving a Bison aircraft of IAF in the western sector. The pilot, Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary, sustained fatal injuries. IAF condoles the tragic loss and stands firmly with the bereaved family. — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 21, 2021 × This is the third crash of a MiG-21 aircraft in 2021. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident. (With inputs from agencies)

Fighter pilot dies in MiG 21 crash in Punjab's Moga

TOKYO — For more than six decades, Kazuo Odachi had a secret: At the age of 17, he became a kamikaze pilot, one of thousands of young Japanese men tasked to give their lives in last-ditch suicide missions near the end of World War II.

As he built a family and a career as a Tokyo police officer, he kept his secret from virtually everyone, even his wife, who knew only that he had served as a Japanese Navy pilot. The experience, he felt, would be too hard to explain to a society that mostly viewed the kamikaze as maniacal zealots who volunteered for an unthinkable sacrifice.

But over the years, as Japan’s complex relationship with the war changed, Odachi gradually began to share his story with a small group of friends. In 2016, he published a memoir, recounting how he had fallen asleep each night wondering if tomorrow it would be his turn to die for a lost cause. The book was released in English translation in September, the 75th anniversary of the conflict’s end.

Odachi, 93, one of the last living members of a group never meant to survive, said he hoped to memorialize the pilots as young men whose valor and patriotism were exploited. “I don’t want anyone to forget that the wonderful country that Japan has become today was built on the foundation of their deaths,” he said in a recent interview at his home.

The kamikaze are the most potent symbol of the war in Japan, a vivid example of the dangers of fervent nationalism and martial fanaticism. But as the generation who lived through the war fades away, Japan’s opposing political sides are vying to reinterpret the kamikaze for a public still divided over the conflict’s legacy.

For the right, the kamikaze are a symbol of traditional virtues and a spirit of self-sacrifice that they believe is woefully absent from modern Japan. For the left, they are part of a generation destroyed by Japanese militarism and a powerful reminder of the importance of maintaining the country’s postwar pacifism.

“The kamikaze as a historical fact, and as a symbol, have a very powerful potential to be used on either side of that argument,” said M.G. Sheftall, a professor at Shizuoka University and the author of “Blossoms in the Wind,” a collection of interviews with the pilots.

Odachi himself has little interest in politics. Nowadays, he welcomes visitors into his home in the Tokyo suburbs, where he vividly reenacts old war scenes, stomping on imaginary airplane pedals and fiercely pulling a pretend flight stick.

His story defies the simple stereotypes often evoked by Japan’s conservatives and liberals.

He volunteered to fight in a war he believed his country would not win. He was prepared to die to protect those he loved but not to throw his life away.

Today, he is staunchly antiwar and thinks Japan’s pacifist constitution is fine just the way it is, but he remains a strong advocate for the country’s right to self-defense. He has no regrets about his decision to enlist, and he visits Yasukuni Shrine — where generations of Japan’s fallen soldiers are enshrined alongside some of its most notorious war criminals — several times a year to console the souls of his friends who died in combat.

Growing up in a village near an air base, Odachi had long been fascinated by planes, and when the war began, he decided that he would one day fly one. He enlisted in Japan’s armed forces in 1943 and joined the Yokaren, an elite group of teenagers who were trained as Navy pilots.

The Yokaren, Odachi pointed out, were different from other kamikaze, students who had been yanked out of their schools and consigned to death with little preparation or training. Still, the young men in Odachi’s program were groomed to die in aerial combat even before Japan’s desperate turn to suicide missions.

Cadets were celebrated as cherry blossoms, a flower whose vivid beauty is accentuated by its brief existence. Even the buttons on their uniforms, embossed with the flower, served as a reminder of their imminent death in battle.

“We all knew that ‘happily ever after’ was an unlikely outcome,” Odachi wrote in his book, “Memoirs of a Kamikaze.” “We weren’t destined to live long.”

When he arrived in Japanese-occupied Taiwan in August of 1944, the war was entering its end stage.

Japanese forces had been ground down by American technological superiority and the overwhelming production capacity of the U.S. war machine. An allied victory appeared increasingly inevitable, and Japanese tactics began to demand even greater human sacrifice.

In dogfights, pilots were instructed to “aim to carve the enemy with our own propellers,” Odachi wrote. “Of course, death was a certainty if this happened, but at least we would take the enemy with us.”

The tactics hinged on the belief that Japanese airmen were more willing to die than their enemies.

The force of that conviction was put to the test in October 1944, when Japan’s Navy decided to gamble everything to stop an American attack on its forces in the Philippines, during what would become known as the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Japanese officers explained to Odachi and his cohort the plan to use suicide missions and asked for volunteers. They were met with stunned silence.

Only when the officers began to harangue them did the first few men reticently volunteer, he wrote. “We were essentially cajoled into committing suicide,” he recalled.

On Oct. 25, Odachi witnessed the first successful sortie of suicide fighters take off from a bombed-out runway in the Philippines. But Odachi and his fellow troops soon found themselves pinned down in the island nation as U.S. bombers destroyed many of his squadron’s remaining planes.

Months later, he and others escaped to Taiwan, where, on April 4, 1945, he was ordered on the first mission of his 10-month stint as a suicide pilot.

Odachi’s Zero — the agile Japanese fighter plane that dominated the Pacific skies in the war’s early years — was loaded with an 1,100-pound bomb, weighing it down so much that it would be impossible to outmaneuver the enemy. When U.S. fighters spotted him, he jettisoned his bomb into the ocean and managed to escape.

On his next sortie, his group failed to find a target. The next six missions also ended in failure.

After each attempt, he would wait for weeks for new orders. Every night, the officers announced who would fly into battle the next day. It “felt like the conferral of the death penalty, and it was stomach-turning,” he wrote.

But by the end, he said, “we had become indifferent to matters of life and death. Our only concern was making the final moment count.”

That moment, however, never came. On his final mission, his plane was preparing to take off when a member of the ground crew ran onto the runway, shouting and waving for the squadron to stop. The emperor, Odachi learned, had just announced Japan’s surrender. He was going home.

On his return, as a train took him through the bombed-out remains of Hiroshima, he truly understood that the war was over. At his home in Tokyo, he took the ceremonial short sword commemorating his status as a kamikaze and threw it into the hearth fire, where it melted into a lump of steel.

His only souvenirs from the war are a handful of photos and a present from a young woman he met in Taiwan: a silk scarf, made from a parachute, that is embroidered with cherry blossoms and a blue anchor, the symbol of the Yokaren.

Odachi has never revealed the woman’s identity. It is one of the few things about the war he still refuses to talk about.

People, he said, have often remarked that the kamikaze “didn’t value their own lives.” He hopes that his memoir will remind them not just of the conflict’s costs but also of the humanity of the young men whose lives were sacrificed for it.

“We were the same age as today’s high school students and college freshmen,” he said. “There wasn’t a single person among us who would have decided on their own to die.”

TOKYO — For more than six decades, Kazuo Odachi had a secret: At the age of 17, he became a kamikaze pilot, one of thousands of young Japanese men tasked to give their lives in last-ditch suicide missions near the end of World War II.

TOKYO — For more than six decades, Kazuo Odachi had a secret: At the age of 17, he became a kamikaze pilot, one of thousands of young Japanese men tasked to give their lives in last-ditch suicide missions near the end of World War II. As he built a family and a career as a Tokyo police officer, he kept his secret from virtually everyone, even his wife, who knew only that he had served as a Japanese Navy pilot. The experience, he felt, would be too hard to explain to a society that mostly viewed the kamikaze as maniacal zealots who volunteered for an unthinkable sacrifice. But over the years, as Japan’s complex relationship with the war changed, Odachi gradually began to share his story with a small group of friends. In 2016, he published a memoir, recounting how he had fallen asleep each night wondering if tomorrow it would be his turn to die for a lost cause. The book was released in English translation in September, the 75th anniversary of the conflict’s end. Odachi, 93, one of the last living members of a group never meant to survive, said he hoped to memorialize the pilots as young men whose valor and patriotism were exploited. “I don’t want anyone to forget that the wonderful country that Japan has become today was built on the foundation of their deaths,” he said in a recent interview at his home. The kamikaze are the most potent symbol of the war in Japan, a vivid example of the dangers of fervent nationalism and martial fanaticism. But as the generation who lived through the war fades away, Japan’s opposing political sides are vying to reinterpret the kamikaze for a public still divided over the conflict’s legacy. For the right, the kamikaze are a symbol of traditional virtues and a spirit of self-sacrifice that they believe is woefully absent from modern Japan. For the left, they are part of a generation destroyed by Japanese militarism and a powerful reminder of the importance of maintaining the country’s postwar pacifism. “The kamikaze as a historical fact, and as a symbol, have a very powerful potential to be used on either side of that argument,” said M.G. Sheftall, a professor at Shizuoka University and the author of “Blossoms in the Wind,” a collection of interviews with the pilots. Odachi himself has little interest in politics. Nowadays, he welcomes visitors into his home in the Tokyo suburbs, where he vividly reenacts old war scenes, stomping on imaginary airplane pedals and fiercely pulling a pretend flight stick. His story defies the simple stereotypes often evoked by Japan’s conservatives and liberals. He volunteered to fight in a war he believed his country would not win. He was prepared to die to protect those he loved but not to throw his life away. Today, he is staunchly antiwar and thinks Japan’s pacifist constitution is fine just the way it is, but he remains a strong advocate for the country’s right to self-defense. He has no regrets about his decision to enlist, and he visits Yasukuni Shrine — where generations of Japan’s fallen soldiers are enshrined alongside some of its most notorious war criminals — several times a year to console the souls of his friends who died in combat. Growing up in a village near an air base, Odachi had long been fascinated by planes, and when the war began, he decided that he would one day fly one. He enlisted in Japan’s armed forces in 1943 and joined the Yokaren, an elite group of teenagers who were trained as Navy pilots. The Yokaren, Odachi pointed out, were different from other kamikaze, students who had been yanked out of their schools and consigned to death with little preparation or training. Still, the young men in Odachi’s program were groomed to die in aerial combat even before Japan’s desperate turn to suicide missions. Cadets were celebrated as cherry blossoms, a flower whose vivid beauty is accentuated by its brief existence. Even the buttons on their uniforms, embossed with the flower, served as a reminder of their imminent death in battle. “We all knew that ‘happily ever after’ was an unlikely outcome,” Odachi wrote in his book, “Memoirs of a Kamikaze.” “We weren’t destined to live long.” When he arrived in Japanese-occupied Taiwan in August of 1944, the war was entering its end stage. Japanese forces had been ground down by American technological superiority and the overwhelming production capacity of the U.S. war machine. An allied victory appeared increasingly inevitable, and Japanese tactics began to demand even greater human sacrifice. In dogfights, pilots were instructed to “aim to carve the enemy with our own propellers,” Odachi wrote. “Of course, death was a certainty if this happened, but at least we would take the enemy with us.” The tactics hinged on the belief that Japanese airmen were more willing to die than their enemies. The force of that conviction was put to the test in October 1944, when Japan’s Navy decided to gamble everything to stop an American attack on its forces in the Philippines, during what would become known as the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Japanese officers explained to Odachi and his cohort the plan to use suicide missions and asked for volunteers. They were met with stunned silence. Only when the officers began to harangue them did the first few men reticently volunteer, he wrote. “We were essentially cajoled into committing suicide,” he recalled. On Oct. 25, Odachi witnessed the first successful sortie of suicide fighters take off from a bombed-out runway in the Philippines. But Odachi and his fellow troops soon found themselves pinned down in the island nation as U.S. bombers destroyed many of his squadron’s remaining planes. Months later, he and others escaped to Taiwan, where, on April 4, 1945, he was ordered on the first mission of his 10-month stint as a suicide pilot. Odachi’s Zero — the agile Japanese fighter plane that dominated the Pacific skies in the war’s early years — was loaded with an 1,100-pound bomb, weighing it down so much that it would be impossible to outmaneuver the enemy. When U.S. fighters spotted him, he jettisoned his bomb into the ocean and managed to escape. On his next sortie, his group failed to find a target. The next six missions also ended in failure. After each attempt, he would wait for weeks for new orders. Every night, the officers announced who would fly into battle the next day. It “felt like the conferral of the death penalty, and it was stomach-turning,” he wrote. But by the end, he said, “we had become indifferent to matters of life and death. Our only concern was making the final moment count.” That moment, however, never came. On his final mission, his plane was preparing to take off when a member of the ground crew ran onto the runway, shouting and waving for the squadron to stop. The emperor, Odachi learned, had just announced Japan’s surrender. He was going home. On his return, as a train took him through the bombed-out remains of Hiroshima, he truly understood that the war was over. At his home in Tokyo, he took the ceremonial short sword commemorating his status as a kamikaze and threw it into the hearth fire, where it melted into a lump of steel. His only souvenirs from the war are a handful of photos and a present from a young woman he met in Taiwan: a silk scarf, made from a parachute, that is embroidered with cherry blossoms and a blue anchor, the symbol of the Yokaren. Odachi has never revealed the woman’s identity. It is one of the few things about the war he still refuses to talk about. People, he said, have often remarked that the kamikaze “didn’t value their own lives.” He hopes that his memoir will remind them not just of the conflict’s costs but also of the humanity of the young men whose lives were sacrificed for it. “We were the same age as today’s high school students and college freshmen,” he said. “There wasn’t a single person among us who would have decided on their own to die.”

He escaped death as a Kamikaze pilot. 70 years later, he told his story

Every morning, Malaysian aircraft pilot Azrin Mohamad Zawawi dons his white captain's uniform and hat before heading to work - not at the airport, but to the small noodle stall that he now runs in a suburb just outside the capital Kuala Lumpur.

From the cockpit to the kitchen: Grounded Malaysian pilot dons uniform to sell food

400 years ago on Wednesday, 102 pilgrims boarded the Mayflower in Plymouth, England, and sailed to a new life in America. Adrian Vinken, chairman of the Mayflower 400 National Compact, described the trip as "arguably the most influential sea voyage in global maritime history".

Plymouth prepares for 400th Mayflower anniversary

ASHOK NAGAR (Madhya Pradesh): Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot, and accused them of abandoning the party after it gave them everything.

"I am saddened by these developments. These youngsters were given everything by the Congress party. They don't they have patience," Singh told reporters.

This comes as the Rajasthan Congress is in turmoil over the past few days after Pilot skipped recent Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meetings amid speculations of his exit from the party.

"Jyotiraditya received the same respect as his father Madhavrao Scindia in the Congress party. He (Jyotiraditya) was given key positions and offered several others as well. He shook hands with the enemy after being defeated by them. We did not expect this. The same is being done by Sachin Pilot," Singh said.

Singh said that the Congress made Sachin Pilot a Member of Parliament (MP) at the young age of 27 and inducted him in the Central Cabinet.

Yesterday, Pilot was sacked as Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Pradesh Congress Committee chief by the party. The decision to sack him was taken at a CLP meeting where as many as 102 MLAs unanimously demanded that Pilot be removed.

"He was also made Rajasthan PCC president and Deputy Chief Minister. How old is he? Merely 37-38 years old. Have some patience. How many people are there who have climbed the political ladder so quickly?" the Congress leader asked.

"But he has worked against the norms of the Congress party. It is saddening. I wanted to have good relations with Sachin Pilot. Just like I had with Rajesh Pilot and Madhavrao Scindia. These youngsters don't have patience, which is a key trait in politics," he added.

Singh also ridiculed the claims of former Madhya Pradesh MLAs that work requested by them was not done as they were Scindia supporters and said, "These are blatant lies. We have a list of all the work that was done on the request of these former MLAs".

In March this year, Scindia left the Congress to join the BJP. Later, 22 Congress MLAs resigned, which led to the toppling of the Kamal Nath government and paved the way for Shivraj Singh Chouhan to become the Chief Minister again.

Scindia was later elected to the Upper House of the Parliament from the BJP.&nbsp;

ASHOK NAGAR (Madhya Pradesh): Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot, and accused them of abandoning the party after it gave them everything.

ASHOK NAGAR (Madhya Pradesh): Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot, and accused them of abandoning the party after it gave them everything. "I am saddened by these developments. These youngsters were given everything by the Congress party. They don't they have patience," Singh told reporters. This comes as the Rajasthan Congress is in turmoil over the past few days after Pilot skipped recent Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meetings amid speculations of his exit from the party. "Jyotiraditya received the same respect as his father Madhavrao Scindia in the Congress party. He (Jyotiraditya) was given key positions and offered several others as well. He shook hands with the enemy after being defeated by them. We did not expect this. The same is being done by Sachin Pilot," Singh said. Singh said that the Congress made Sachin Pilot a Member of Parliament (MP) at the young age of 27 and inducted him in the Central Cabinet. Yesterday, Pilot was sacked as Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Pradesh Congress Committee chief by the party. The decision to sack him was taken at a CLP meeting where as many as 102 MLAs unanimously demanded that Pilot be removed. "He was also made Rajasthan PCC president and Deputy Chief Minister. How old is he? Merely 37-38 years old. Have some patience. How many people are there who have climbed the political ladder so quickly?" the Congress leader asked. "But he has worked against the norms of the Congress party. It is saddening. I wanted to have good relations with Sachin Pilot. Just like I had with Rajesh Pilot and Madhavrao Scindia. These youngsters don't have patience, which is a key trait in politics," he added. Singh also ridiculed the claims of former Madhya Pradesh MLAs that work requested by them was not done as they were Scindia supporters and said, "These are blatant lies. We have a list of all the work that was done on the request of these former MLAs". In March this year, Scindia left the Congress to join the BJP. Later, 22 Congress MLAs resigned, which led to the toppling of the Kamal Nath government and paved the way for Shivraj Singh Chouhan to become the Chief Minister again. Scindia was later elected to the Upper House of the Parliament from the BJP.

Digvijaya Singh trains guns at Scindia and Pilot, says youngsters don't have patience

A US fighter jet on a training mission from a British Royal Air Force base in eastern England crashed in the North Sea on Monday.

"A US Air Force F-15C Eagle crashed at approximately 0940 (0840 GMT) today (Monday) in the North Sea," said USAF Captain Miranda T. Simmons, from RAF Lakenheath.

"The cause of the crash, as well as the status of the pilot, are unknown at this time, and UK Search and Rescue have been called to support."

The plane took off from the RAF Lakenheath base, near Mildenhall, in Suffolk, which hosts the 48th Fighter Wing of the US Air Force.

The BBC said the plane was believed to have gone down 74 nautical miles (137 kilometres) off the East Yorkshire coast.

Citing a flight tracker website, Sky News television said the plane circled in the area before disappearing.

There was no immediate response from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency when contacted by AFP.

A US fighter jet on a training mission from a British Royal Air Force base in eastern England crashed in the North Sea on Monday. "A US Air Force F-15C Eagle crashed at approximately 0940 (0840 GMT) today (Monday) in the North Sea," said USAF Captain Miranda T.

A US fighter jet on a training mission from a British Royal Air Force base in eastern England crashed in the North Sea on Monday. "A US Air Force F-15C Eagle crashed at approximately 0940 (0840 GMT) today (Monday) in the North Sea," said USAF Captain Miranda T. Simmons, from RAF Lakenheath. "The cause of the crash, as well as the status of the pilot, are unknown at this time, and UK Search and Rescue have been called to support." The plane took off from the RAF Lakenheath base, near Mildenhall, in Suffolk, which hosts the 48th Fighter Wing of the US Air Force. The BBC said the plane was believed to have gone down 74 nautical miles (137 kilometres) off the East Yorkshire coast. Citing a flight tracker website, Sky News television said the plane circled in the area before disappearing. There was no immediate response from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency when contacted by AFP.

US Air Force F-15 fighter jet crashes in North Sea, pilot missing

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-dgca-suspends-pilots-license-for-3-months-in-runway-incursion-case-246899">suspended the licenses</a> of two <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/spicejet-to-shift-entire-operation-to-terminal-2-of-mumbai-airport-244513">SpiceJet</a> pilots for four months each over the June 13 flight from Hyderabad to Jaipur, which suffered cabin pressurisation failure.

The incident occurred on a B737-800 operated as flight SG 341.

The civil aviation watchdog said that one of the pilots,&nbsp;Captain Sunil Mehta had forgotten to put the bleed switch on during cockpit preparation, departure briefing and after takeoff checklist which resulted in pressurisation failure during the climb.

The second pilot, Captain Vikram Singh had called out bleeds 'on'&nbsp;during after takeoff checklist.

"However, bleeds were still in off position which resulted into pressurisation failure during a climb," the DGCA said in its suspension letter, adding that the action jeopardised the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.

"In exercise of the powers delegated under Clause (a) of the Sub-Rule (3) of Rule 19 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, the undersigned hereby suspend the license of Captain Sunil Mehta and Captain Vikram Singh for a period of four months from the date of the incident," the civil aviation watchdog said.

Earlier on September 23, the DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to the pilots giving them a time period of 15 days to explain why action should not be taken against them.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspended the licenses of two SpiceJet pilots for four months each over the June 13 flight from Hyderabad to Jaipur, which suffered cabin pressurisation failure.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspended the licenses of two SpiceJet pilots for four months each over the June 13 flight from Hyderabad to Jaipur, which suffered cabin pressurisation failure. The incident occurred on a B737-800 operated as flight SG 341. The civil aviation watchdog said that one of the pilots, Captain Sunil Mehta had forgotten to put the bleed switch on during cockpit preparation, departure briefing and after takeoff checklist which resulted in pressurisation failure during the climb. The second pilot, Captain Vikram Singh had called out bleeds 'on' during after takeoff checklist. "However, bleeds were still in off position which resulted into pressurisation failure during a climb," the DGCA said in its suspension letter, adding that the action jeopardised the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. "In exercise of the powers delegated under Clause (a) of the Sub-Rule (3) of Rule 19 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, the undersigned hereby suspend the license of Captain Sunil Mehta and Captain Vikram Singh for a period of four months from the date of the incident," the civil aviation watchdog said. Earlier on September 23, the DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to the pilots giving them a time period of 15 days to explain why action should not be taken against them.

Two SpiceJet pilots suspended over air pressurisation failure in flight

Megan Helsel, a kayaking wildlife specialist, has her dream job, and T'angelo Magee is making headway toward his, a commercial pilot. Both say work is central to their identity. Both are disabled. Americans with disabilities, physical and cognitive, in recent months have been joining the workforce at a faster pace than those without disabilities, according to data collected by organizations that work with the disabled.

Paralyzed Army veteran works toward becoming a pilot

In a first, Thai King's wife turns pilot, takes part in military drills

&nbsp;

&nbsp;A Spanish military jet crashed into the sea off the southeastern coast of Spain early on Monday (August 26), killing the pilot, the air force said.

The C-101 jet, used for training, came down near La Manga, Murcia just after 0730 GMT, an air force spokesman said.

He said the cause of the crash, the second air disaster in as many days in Spain, was not yet known. The pilot, who was alone in the cockpit, was a flying instructor.

Three beaches in the area were closed to sunbathers after wreckage from the crash hit the sand, local authorities said.

On Sunday, seven people were killed in a collision between a helicopter and a light plane on the island of Mallorca.

&nbsp;

A Spanish military jet crashed into the sea off the southeastern coast of Spain early on Monday (August 26), killing the pilot, the air force said. The C-101 jet, used for training, came down near La Manga, Murcia just after 0730 GMT, an air force spokesman said.

A Spanish military jet crashed into the sea off the southeastern coast of Spain early on Monday (August 26), killing the pilot, the air force said. The C-101 jet, used for training, came down near La Manga, Murcia just after 0730 GMT, an air force spokesman said. He said the cause of the crash, the second air disaster in as many days in Spain, was not yet known. The pilot, who was alone in the cockpit, was a flying instructor. Three beaches in the area were closed to sunbathers after wreckage from the crash hit the sand, local authorities said. On Sunday, seven people were killed in a collision between a helicopter and a light plane on the island of Mallorca.

Spanish military jet crashes into sea

No fatalities were reported after an F-16 plane crashed into a building near the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County on Thursday. The pilot of the plane, who was the only occupant of the aircraft, was ejected before the crash and safely landed at the airfield near Cactus Avenue and Meridian Parkway where a parachute was spotted.

F-16 Fighter Jet Crashed During Routine Training In California, Pilot Ejects Safely

Within hours of the announcement, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/air-india-scripts-new-era-in-fuel-conservation-no-additional-fuel-214568">Air India</a> on Tuesday put on hold the appointment of senior official Arvind Kathpalia, whose flying licence was suspended in November last year, as regional director of the northern region.

The flying licence of Kathpalia, who had served as director operations, was suspended after he failed pre-flight alcohol tests.

"Capt. Arvind Kathpalia will take over the charge of the post of Regional Director (Northern Region) with effect from May 1, 2019", consequent to the retirement of incumbent Pankaj Kumar, Air India said in an order.

In a flip-flop, the airline issued another order saying that the appointment has been kept in abeyance till further orders.

Sources in the civil aviation ministry said Air India decided to keep the appointment order in abeyance following directions from Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu.

Soon after the issuance of the appointment order, which drew flak from pilots' body ICPA, an Air India spokesperson issued a statement saying that the appointment of Kathpalia as director of northern region was "according to law".

The position of regional director is equivalent to executive director, a post he held earlier, the spokesperson had said.

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), which represents pilots flying Air India's narrow body aircraft, "strongly" condemned the appointment.

"Top officials are bending backwards to elevate a tainted official. He's been made in-charge of NR (Northern Region) where he will be able to intimidate people who had given statements in police enquiry. Disciplinary action against commanders come under Regional Director-NR. It's ethically wrong," it said in a statement.

A person who has broken the law and has charge sheet pending against him cannot take disciplinary action against other employees, the statement added.

On November 11 last year, Kathpalia tested positive for alcohol in two breath analyser (BA) tests before he was to fly Air India's New Delhi-London flight.

The next day, aviation regulator DGCA suspended his flying licence for three years, and on November 13, the ministry issued an order removing him from the position of director of operations.

A week later, he was posted as an executive director by Air India.

In February 2017, when Kathpalia was working at the position of executive director of operations, his flying licence was suspended for three months on charges of skipping a pre-flight alcohol test.

After being removed from the post of executive director of operations, in March 2018, he was appointed as director of operations.

Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules prohibits crew members from partaking any alcoholic drink 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight, and it is mandatory for him/her to undergo an alcohol test both before and after operating a flight.

Within hours of the announcement, Air India on Tuesday put on hold the appointment of senior official Arvind Kathpalia, whose flying licence was suspended in November last year, as regional director of the northern region.

Within hours of the announcement, Air India on Tuesday put on hold the appointment of senior official Arvind Kathpalia, whose flying licence was suspended in November last year, as regional director of the northern region. The flying licence of Kathpalia, who had served as director operations, was suspended after he failed pre-flight alcohol tests. "Capt. Arvind Kathpalia will take over the charge of the post of Regional Director (Northern Region) with effect from May 1, 2019", consequent to the retirement of incumbent Pankaj Kumar, Air India said in an order. In a flip-flop, the airline issued another order saying that the appointment has been kept in abeyance till further orders. Sources in the civil aviation ministry said Air India decided to keep the appointment order in abeyance following directions from Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu. Soon after the issuance of the appointment order, which drew flak from pilots' body ICPA, an Air India spokesperson issued a statement saying that the appointment of Kathpalia as director of northern region was "according to law". The position of regional director is equivalent to executive director, a post he held earlier, the spokesperson had said. The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), which represents pilots flying Air India's narrow body aircraft, "strongly" condemned the appointment. "Top officials are bending backwards to elevate a tainted official. He's been made in-charge of NR (Northern Region) where he will be able to intimidate people who had given statements in police enquiry. Disciplinary action against commanders come under Regional Director-NR. It's ethically wrong," it said in a statement. A person who has broken the law and has charge sheet pending against him cannot take disciplinary action against other employees, the statement added. On November 11 last year, Kathpalia tested positive for alcohol in two breath analyser (BA) tests before he was to fly Air India's New Delhi-London flight. The next day, aviation regulator DGCA suspended his flying licence for three years, and on November 13, the ministry issued an order removing him from the position of director of operations. A week later, he was posted as an executive director by Air India. In February 2017, when Kathpalia was working at the position of executive director of operations, his flying licence was suspended for three months on charges of skipping a pre-flight alcohol test. After being removed from the post of executive director of operations, in March 2018, he was appointed as director of operations. Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules prohibits crew members from partaking any alcoholic drink 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight, and it is mandatory for him/her to undergo an alcohol test both before and after operating a flight.

Air India holds appointment of pilot as regional director

A Greek man said on Sunday he would have been the 150th passenger on the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crashes-with-157-on-board-no-survivors-says-state-media-202350">Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines</a> Boeing plane that crashed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-crash-pilot-reported-difficulties-had-asked-to-return-202389">killing all on board</a>, except he arrived two minutes late for the flight.

"I was mad because nobody helped me to reach the gate on time," Antonis Mavropoulos said in a Facebook post entitled "My lucky day" in which he includes a photo of his ticket.

Mavropoulos, president of the International Solid Waste Association, a non-profit organization, was travelling to Nairobi to attend the annual assembly of the UN Environment Programme, according to Athens News Agency.

He was supposed to board the plane but he reached the departure gate just two minutes after it was closed.

He booked a later flight but was then prevented from boarding by airport staff.

"They led me to the police station of the airport. The officer told me not to protest but to pray to God because I was the only passenger that didn't board the ET 302 flight that was lost," Mavropoulos said in his post in which he admits being in shock.

The airport authorities explained that they wanted to question him because he was the only passenger booked onto the doomed flight who wasn't on board.

"They said they couldn't let me go before cross-checking my identity, the reason I hadn't boarded the plane etc." The Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 crashed just minutes after an early-morning takeoff Sunday from Addis Ababa.

People holding passports from more than 30 countries were on board including a number of UN workers.

State-owned Ethiopian Airline had taken delivery of the Boeing 737-800 MAX plane on November 15. It was of the same type as a plane that crashed in October after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

A Greek man said on Sunday he would have been the 150th passenger on the Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines Boeing plane that crashed killing all on board, except he arrived two minutes late for the flight.

A Greek man said on Sunday he would have been the 150th passenger on the Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines Boeing plane that crashed killing all on board, except he arrived two minutes late for the flight. "I was mad because nobody helped me to reach the gate on time," Antonis Mavropoulos said in a Facebook post entitled "My lucky day" in which he includes a photo of his ticket. Mavropoulos, president of the International Solid Waste Association, a non-profit organization, was travelling to Nairobi to attend the annual assembly of the UN Environment Programme, according to Athens News Agency. He was supposed to board the plane but he reached the departure gate just two minutes after it was closed. He booked a later flight but was then prevented from boarding by airport staff. "They led me to the police station of the airport. The officer told me not to protest but to pray to God because I was the only passenger that didn't board the ET 302 flight that was lost," Mavropoulos said in his post in which he admits being in shock. The airport authorities explained that they wanted to question him because he was the only passenger booked onto the doomed flight who wasn't on board. "They said they couldn't let me go before cross-checking my identity, the reason I hadn't boarded the plane etc." The Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 crashed just minutes after an early-morning takeoff Sunday from Addis Ababa. People holding passports from more than 30 countries were on board including a number of UN workers. State-owned Ethiopian Airline had taken delivery of the Boeing 737-800 MAX plane on November 15. It was of the same type as a plane that crashed in October after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

Greek man saved from Ethiopian Airlines crash by being two minutes late, calls it 'my lucky day'

The pilot of a Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crashes-with-157-on-board-no-survivors-says-state-media-202350">that crashed six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa</a> on Sunday, had alerted controllers "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-crash-boeing-was-similar-to-lion-air-plane-that-crashed-last-october-202336">he had difficulties</a>" and wanted to turn back the plane carrying 157 people, the head of Ethiopian Airlines said.

The pilot "was given clearance" to return to Addis, chief executive officer Tewolde GebreMariam told journalists in the Ethiopian capital when asked whether there had been a distress call.&nbsp;

The new Boeing 737 MAX: Two crashes in six months

The 737 MAX, a new plane from US aircraft manufacturer Boeing, faces fresh scrutiny of its safety record after being involved in two crashes in six months.

The single-aisle airliner, which undertook its first commercial flight in May 2017, came under the spotlight in October last year in the wake of a fatal accident in Indonesia.

Lion Air Flight 610 vanished from radar shortly after taking off from Jakarta on October 29, crashing into waters off the north coast of Java Island and killing all 189 people onboard.

About 30 relatives of the crash victims have since filed lawsuits in the United States against Boeing, alleging that faults with the new airliner, including with its anti-stalling system, led to the deaths.

Questions were raised by experts and a pilots' union in the US about whether pilots had been properly trained and whether Boeing had fully shared data about changes made to the on-board control systems.

Boeing responded by saying that the 737 MAX was "as safe as any airplane that has ever flown the skies."&nbsp;

There is no indication that a technical problem was to blame for the crash of the Boeing 737-800 MAX operated by Ethiopian Airlines on Sunday which crashed minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa bound for Nairobi.&nbsp;

An investigation by aviation experts and analysis of the blackbox flight recorders is expected to shed light on the causes of the crash.

High demand 
Boeing is struggling to keep up with demand for the new aircraft, which offers far better fuel efficiency than earlier versions of the 737, the world's top-selling airliner.

Around 350 planes have been delivered to customers, with another 5,011 orders taken by Boeing, according to figures at the end of January.

Component suppliers and particularly the manufacturer of its engines -- CFM, a joint venture between US-based General Electric and France's Safran -- have struggled to keep up with demand.

Forced to announce delays in deliveries to clients, Boeing has sent some of its own employees to work alongside CFM workers with the aim of increasing production from its current rate of 52 planes a month to 57.

The 737 MAX family of planes includes versions with different seating capacities, with a maximum 230 for the MAX 9.

The price per plane ranges from 99.7-129 million dollars (89-117 million euros), though discounts are usually given to clients for large orders.

Its main competitor is the Airbus A320, which is also designed for short and medium-haul flights.

The pilot of a Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 that crashed six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday, had alerted controllers "he had difficulties" and wanted to turn back the plane carrying 157 people, the head of Ethiopian Airlines said.

The pilot of a Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 that crashed six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday, had alerted controllers "he had difficulties" and wanted to turn back the plane carrying 157 people, the head of Ethiopian Airlines said. The pilot "was given clearance" to return to Addis, chief executive officer Tewolde GebreMariam told journalists in the Ethiopian capital when asked whether there had been a distress call. The new Boeing 737 MAX: Two crashes in six months The 737 MAX, a new plane from US aircraft manufacturer Boeing, faces fresh scrutiny of its safety record after being involved in two crashes in six months. The single-aisle airliner, which undertook its first commercial flight in May 2017, came under the spotlight in October last year in the wake of a fatal accident in Indonesia. Lion Air Flight 610 vanished from radar shortly after taking off from Jakarta on October 29, crashing into waters off the north coast of Java Island and killing all 189 people onboard. About 30 relatives of the crash victims have since filed lawsuits in the United States against Boeing, alleging that faults with the new airliner, including with its anti-stalling system, led to the deaths. Questions were raised by experts and a pilots' union in the US about whether pilots had been properly trained and whether Boeing had fully shared data about changes made to the on-board control systems. Boeing responded by saying that the 737 MAX was "as safe as any airplane that has ever flown the skies." There is no indication that a technical problem was to blame for the crash of the Boeing 737-800 MAX operated by Ethiopian Airlines on Sunday which crashed minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa bound for Nairobi. An investigation by aviation experts and analysis of the blackbox flight recorders is expected to shed light on the causes of the crash. High demand Boeing is struggling to keep up with demand for the new aircraft, which offers far better fuel efficiency than earlier versions of the 737, the world's top-selling airliner. Around 350 planes have been delivered to customers, with another 5,011 orders taken by Boeing, according to figures at the end of January. Component suppliers and particularly the manufacturer of its engines -- CFM, a joint venture between US-based General Electric and France's Safran -- have struggled to keep up with demand. Forced to announce delays in deliveries to clients, Boeing has sent some of its own employees to work alongside CFM workers with the aim of increasing production from its current rate of 52 planes a month to 57. The 737 MAX family of planes includes versions with different seating capacities, with a maximum 230 for the MAX 9. The price per plane ranges from 99.7-129 million dollars (89-117 million euros), though discounts are usually given to clients for large orders. Its main competitor is the Airbus A320, which is also designed for short and medium-haul flights.

Ethiopian Airlines crash: Pilot reported 'difficulties', had asked to return

An Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison, piloted by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/did-not-face-any-physical-torture-but-went-through-a-lot-of-mental-harassment-abhinandan-on-his-captivity-in-pakistan-200734">Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman</a>, shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft and there are eyewitness accounts as well as electronic evidence for it, the Ministry of External Affairs said Saturday.

It also said evidence on the use of F-16 fighter jets by Pakistan is there in the form of parts of AMRAAM missile recovered from the site, which is carried only by F-16 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, at a media briefing, said an Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison, piloted by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/wing-commander-abhinandan-varthaman-doesnt-have-social-media-accounts-iaf-clarifies-in-tweet-cautious-against-misinformation-201629">Wing Commander Varthaman</a>, shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft and there are eyewitness accounts and electronic evidence for it.

In the aerial combat, India had lost the MiG-21 Bison aircraft and its pilot Wing Commander Varthaman was captured by Pakistan.

Pakistan claimed it downed two Indian jets, and rejected IAF's assertion that an F-16 aircraft was shot down by it during the dogfight.

"Only one aircraft was lost by us. If, as Pakistan claims, they have a video recording of the downing of a second Indian aircraft, why have they not shown it to the international media even after more than one week?&nbsp;

"Questions should be asked to them as to where the fuselage of the aircraft is and what has happened to the pilots? As we have already said, there are eyewitness accounts and electronic evidence that Pakistan deployed F-16 aircraft and that one F-16 was shot down by Wing Commander Abhinandan," Kumar said.&nbsp;

He said Pakistan should explain why it continues to deny that its F-16 aircraft has been shot down.

Official sources had earlier said Varthaman downed an F-16 fighter jet of Pakistan Air Force by firing an R-73 air-to-air missile before his MiG-21 Bison was hit during a fierce dogfight.

An Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison, piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft and there are eyewitness accounts as well as electronic evidence for it, the Ministry of External Affairs said Saturday.

An Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison, piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft and there are eyewitness accounts as well as electronic evidence for it, the Ministry of External Affairs said Saturday. It also said evidence on the use of F-16 fighter jets by Pakistan is there in the form of parts of AMRAAM missile recovered from the site, which is carried only by F-16 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, at a media briefing, said an Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison, piloted by Wing Commander Varthaman, shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft and there are eyewitness accounts and electronic evidence for it. In the aerial combat, India had lost the MiG-21 Bison aircraft and its pilot Wing Commander Varthaman was captured by Pakistan. Pakistan claimed it downed two Indian jets, and rejected IAF's assertion that an F-16 aircraft was shot down by it during the dogfight. "Only one aircraft was lost by us. If, as Pakistan claims, they have a video recording of the downing of a second Indian aircraft, why have they not shown it to the international media even after more than one week? "Questions should be asked to them as to where the fuselage of the aircraft is and what has happened to the pilots? As we have already said, there are eyewitness accounts and electronic evidence that Pakistan deployed F-16 aircraft and that one F-16 was shot down by Wing Commander Abhinandan," Kumar said. He said Pakistan should explain why it continues to deny that its F-16 aircraft has been shot down. Official sources had earlier said Varthaman downed an F-16 fighter jet of Pakistan Air Force by firing an R-73 air-to-air missile before his MiG-21 Bison was hit during a fierce dogfight.

Abhinandan shot down Pakistani F-16, have electronic evidence: MEA

An Indian Air Force aircraft MiG-21 crashed in Rajasthan's Bikaner district on Friday,&nbsp;a defence ministry spokesperson said.

The aircraft was on a routine mission, news agency ANI reported.

The pilot of the aircraft ejected safely before the crash.

Court of inquiry will set up an investigation into the accident.

Bikaner Superintendent of Police Pradeep Mohan Sharma said the MiG aircraft crashed in Shobhasar ki Dhani, 12 km from Bikaner city, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

He said police teams have rushed to the spot to cordon off the area. No loss of life has been reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

 
 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

An Indian Air Force aircraft MiG-21 crashed in Rajasthan's Bikaner district on Friday, a defence ministry spokesperson said. The aircraft was on a routine mission, news agency ANI reported.

An Indian Air Force aircraft MiG-21 crashed in Rajasthan's Bikaner district on Friday, a defence ministry spokesperson said. The aircraft was on a routine mission, news agency ANI reported. The pilot of the aircraft ejected safely before the crash. Court of inquiry will set up an investigation into the accident. Bikaner Superintendent of Police Pradeep Mohan Sharma said the MiG aircraft crashed in Shobhasar ki Dhani, 12 km from Bikaner city, news agency PTI reported. He said police teams have rushed to the spot to cordon off the area. No loss of life has been reported. (With inputs from agencies)

MiG-21 crashes in Rajasthan, pilot ejects safely

Pilots of crisis-hit Jet Airways this week discussed the current situation and are likely to take a final call next month in case the airline fails to adhere to the timeline set for partial payment of salaries, according to a source.

Grappling with acute financial woes, the full service carrier is looking to restructure debt and raise funds.

Jet Airways has been making salary payments to many of its employees, including pilots, in a staggered manner, amid financial crunch.

The current situation of the airline was discussed during an open house meeting, organised by the National Aviator's Guild (NAG), in Mumbai Monday, the source said.

The NAG is a grouping of the airline's pilots.

The source said, the main issue was regarding non-adherence to the salary payment schedule that was communicated to the pilots in December.

According to the source, it was decided at the meeting that in case of a default in the salary payout committed for February, then the pilots would collectively take a final call next month.

The airline will seek approval for conversion of loans into shares, among other proposals, at the meeting of shareholders to be held on February 21.

Jet Airways would seek nod to "convert the whole or part of the outstanding under loans, extended/to be extended by the lenders, into shares, or convertible instruments or other securities, of the company...", as per a filing made last month.

The conversion would be done as per the terms contained in the respective loan documents between the company and its lenders. It would also be subject to all requisite regulatory approvals.

Besides, Jet Airways would seek shareholders' approval to negotiate and finalise the terms and conditions with the lenders for raising further loans from time to time as well as provide the lenders with a right to convert such loans into shares, or convertible instruments or other securities.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Pilots of crisis-hit Jet Airways this week discussed the current situation and are likely to take a final call next month in case the airline fails to adhere to the timeline set for partial payment of salaries, according to a source.

Pilots of crisis-hit Jet Airways this week discussed the current situation and are likely to take a final call next month in case the airline fails to adhere to the timeline set for partial payment of salaries, according to a source. Grappling with acute financial woes, the full service carrier is looking to restructure debt and raise funds. Jet Airways has been making salary payments to many of its employees, including pilots, in a staggered manner, amid financial crunch. The current situation of the airline was discussed during an open house meeting, organised by the National Aviator's Guild (NAG), in Mumbai Monday, the source said. The NAG is a grouping of the airline's pilots. The source said, the main issue was regarding non-adherence to the salary payment schedule that was communicated to the pilots in December. According to the source, it was decided at the meeting that in case of a default in the salary payout committed for February, then the pilots would collectively take a final call next month. The airline will seek approval for conversion of loans into shares, among other proposals, at the meeting of shareholders to be held on February 21. Jet Airways would seek nod to "convert the whole or part of the outstanding under loans, extended/to be extended by the lenders, into shares, or convertible instruments or other securities, of the company...", as per a filing made last month. The conversion would be done as per the terms contained in the respective loan documents between the company and its lenders. It would also be subject to all requisite regulatory approvals. Besides, Jet Airways would seek shareholders' approval to negotiate and finalise the terms and conditions with the lenders for raising further loans from time to time as well as provide the lenders with a right to convert such loans into shares, or convertible instruments or other securities.

Jet pilots discuss airline's current situation; may take final call on salary payment delays in March

Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh allocated portfolios to the council of ministers late on Wednesday night with the advice of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ashok-gehlot-takes-oath-as-12th-rajasthan-chief-minister-at-jaipurs-historic-albert-hall-184717">Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot</a> who has kept nine departments including the key finance and home with him.

Gehlot also has excise, planning, department of personnel, general administration department, information technology among others.

Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot was allocated the portfolios of Public works, Rural development, Panchayati Raj, Science and Technology and statistics, according to the orders issued by cabinet secretariat here.

Apart from the chief minister and deputy chief minister, 13 cabinet and 10 ministers of state were allocated portfolios.

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Portfolios have been allocated to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rajasthan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rajasthan</a> Cabinet Ministers. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot keeps nine departments and Deputy CM Sachin Pilot gets five departments. <a href="https://t.co/OCQmMdg5Qs">pic.twitter.com/OCQmMdg5Qs</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1078107834032758784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The cabinet expansion took place on Monday when 13 cabinet and 10 ministers of state took oath.

The move came after Gehlot and Pilot held meetings with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Wednesday. The all-important distribution of portfolios had been pending over reported disagreement between Gehlot and his deputy on the allocation of key portfolios such as home and finance.

BD Kalla has been given energy, public health engineering, groundwater, art, culture and archaeology departments, while Shanti Dhariwal received urban development and housing, law and parliamentary affairs minister.

Parsadi Lal was named industry minister whereas Master Bhanwar Lal Meghwal is the social justice and empowerment minister.

Agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries departments are with Lal Chand Kataria while medical and health, information and public relations departments are with Raghu Sharma. Pramod Bhaya is mines minister.

Vishvendra Singh got tourism and devsthan department.

Harish Chaudhary was allocated revenue and Ramesh Chand Meena given food and civil supply. Anjana Udailal was made cooperative minister and was also given Indira Gandhi canal project department, Pratap Singh given transport and soldier welfare departments while Shale Mohammad given the portfolio of minority affairs and waqf.

Portfolios among the ministers of state were also allocated with Govind Singh Dotasara being made MoS education (independent charge), and was also given tourism and devsthan.

Mamta Bhupesh was given women and child development department (independent charge) along with minority affairs and waqf.

Arjun Singh Bamnia was given tribal area development department (independent charge) as well as industry and public enterprises departments.

Bhanwar Singh Bhati was allocated higher education (independent charge) and revenue while Sukhram Bishnoi got forest (independent charge), environment (independent charge), food and civil supply and consumer affairs.

Ashok Chandna got youth affairs and sports (independent charge), skill development (independent charge), transport and soldier welfare, Tikaram Jully got labour (independent charge), industries and boilers inspection (independent charge), cooperatives and Indira Gandhi canal project department.

Bhajan Lal Jatav has civil defence (independent charge), agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries, Rajendra Singh Yadav was allocated state motor garage (independent charge), language department, social justice and empowerment, calamity management and relief departments while Subhash Garg (RLD) was allocated technical education (independent charge), Sanskrit education (independent charge), medical and health, information and public relations department.

Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh allocated portfolios to the council of ministers late on Wednesday night with the advice of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot who has kept nine departments including the key finance and home with him.

Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh allocated portfolios to the council of ministers late on Wednesday night with the advice of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot who has kept nine departments including the key finance and home with him. Gehlot also has excise, planning, department of personnel, general administration department, information technology among others. Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot was allocated the portfolios of Public works, Rural development, Panchayati Raj, Science and Technology and statistics, according to the orders issued by cabinet secretariat here. Apart from the chief minister and deputy chief minister, 13 cabinet and 10 ministers of state were allocated portfolios. Portfolios have been allocated to the #Rajasthan Cabinet Ministers. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot keeps nine departments and Deputy CM Sachin Pilot gets five departments. pic.twitter.com/OCQmMdg5Qs — ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2018 × The cabinet expansion took place on Monday when 13 cabinet and 10 ministers of state took oath. The move came after Gehlot and Pilot held meetings with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Wednesday. The all-important distribution of portfolios had been pending over reported disagreement between Gehlot and his deputy on the allocation of key portfolios such as home and finance. BD Kalla has been given energy, public health engineering, groundwater, art, culture and archaeology departments, while Shanti Dhariwal received urban development and housing, law and parliamentary affairs minister. Parsadi Lal was named industry minister whereas Master Bhanwar Lal Meghwal is the social justice and empowerment minister. Agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries departments are with Lal Chand Kataria while medical and health, information and public relations departments are with Raghu Sharma. Pramod Bhaya is mines minister. Vishvendra Singh got tourism and devsthan department. Harish Chaudhary was allocated revenue and Ramesh Chand Meena given food and civil supply. Anjana Udailal was made cooperative minister and was also given Indira Gandhi canal project department, Pratap Singh given transport and soldier welfare departments while Shale Mohammad given the portfolio of minority affairs and waqf. Portfolios among the ministers of state were also allocated with Govind Singh Dotasara being made MoS education (independent charge), and was also given tourism and devsthan. Mamta Bhupesh was given women and child development department (independent charge) along with minority affairs and waqf. Arjun Singh Bamnia was given tribal area development department (independent charge) as well as industry and public enterprises departments. Bhanwar Singh Bhati was allocated higher education (independent charge) and revenue while Sukhram Bishnoi got forest (independent charge), environment (independent charge), food and civil supply and consumer affairs. Ashok Chandna got youth affairs and sports (independent charge), skill development (independent charge), transport and soldier welfare, Tikaram Jully got labour (independent charge), industries and boilers inspection (independent charge), cooperatives and Indira Gandhi canal project department. Bhajan Lal Jatav has civil defence (independent charge), agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries, Rajendra Singh Yadav was allocated state motor garage (independent charge), language department, social justice and empowerment, calamity management and relief departments while Subhash Garg (RLD) was allocated technical education (independent charge), Sanskrit education (independent charge), medical and health, information and public relations department.

Portfolios allocated to ministers in Rajasthan; Gehlot keeps 9, Pilot 5

Air India's Chief Vigilance Officer will carry out a detailed inquiry into the incident involving Captain Arvind Kathpalia, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, the impact of Kathpalia's action on passenger's safety will also be investigated, along with the administrative and disciplinary aspects of his conduct.

Air India Captain Arvind Kathpalia was <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-director-of-operations-arvind-kathpalia-sacked-177079">removed from the post of air carrier's Director of Operations</a> on Tuesday. Kathpalia's dismissal came a day after his licence was revoked by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday.&nbsp;

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Chief Vigilance Officer of Air India to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident of 11 Nov &amp; on administrative &amp; disciplinary aspects of the conduct of Captain Arvind Kathpalia &amp; impact of his action on passenger's safety.He has been relieved from the charge of Dir Operations
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1062346926673289216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"The privileges of his licence have been suspended for a period of three years from 11.11.2018 as per the provisions of applicable regulations," a spokesman at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement.

On Sunday, Kathpalia made headlines for failing two breathalyzer tests before a flight to London from New Delhi.&nbsp;

This is the second time Arvind Kathpalia has been in trouble over alcohol tests. He was suspended for three months in 2017 for allegedly refusing to take breathalyzer tests, news agency Reuters reported.

Air India's Chief Vigilance Officer will carry out a detailed inquiry into the incident involving Captain Arvind Kathpalia, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, the impact of Kathpalia's action on passenger's safety will also be investigated, along with the administrative and disciplinary aspects of his conduct.

Air India's Chief Vigilance Officer will carry out a detailed inquiry into the incident involving Captain Arvind Kathpalia, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, the impact of Kathpalia's action on passenger's safety will also be investigated, along with the administrative and disciplinary aspects of his conduct. Air India Captain Arvind Kathpalia was removed from the post of air carrier's Director of Operations on Tuesday. Kathpalia's dismissal came a day after his licence was revoked by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday. Chief Vigilance Officer of Air India to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident of 11 Nov & on administrative & disciplinary aspects of the conduct of Captain Arvind Kathpalia & impact of his action on passenger's safety.He has been relieved from the charge of Dir Operations — ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2018 × "The privileges of his licence have been suspended for a period of three years from 11.11.2018 as per the provisions of applicable regulations," a spokesman at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement. On Sunday, Kathpalia made headlines for failing two breathalyzer tests before a flight to London from New Delhi. This is the second time Arvind Kathpalia has been in trouble over alcohol tests. He was suspended for three months in 2017 for allegedly refusing to take breathalyzer tests, news agency Reuters reported.

Drunk Air India pilot case: Air India's Chief Vigilance Officer to conduct detail inquiry

Air safety watchdog on Monday suspended the licence of a senior Air India pilot, who is also the carrier's director of operations, for three years, a day after he failed two breathalyzer tests before a flight to London from New Delhi.

This is the second time Arvind Kathpalia has been in trouble over alcohol tests. He was suspended for three months in 2017 for allegedly refusing to take breathalyzer tests.

"The privileges of his licence have been suspended for a period of three years from 11.11.2018 as per the provisions of applicable regulations," a spokesman at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement.

Kathpalia, who sits on the airline's board, told Reuters the DGCA directive "is a rule and so it is meant to be followed".

"At present, I don't see how" to contest it, he added.

On Sunday, he had said that he would contest the results of the tests and claimed he was the victim of internal feuding within the loss-making state-owned airline.

An Air India spokesman could not be reached for comment.

India is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets with about 20 per cent growth in the number of passengers taking domestic and international flights over the past few years.

More than 1 million flights departed from the country last fiscal year, ended March 31, according to DGCA data.

Between 2015-2017, 132 pilots in India failed a breathalyzer test during the mandatory pre-flight examination, the Minister of Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu told parliament in August.

Of these, 112 pilots were first-time offenders and their pilot licence was suspended for three months. Fifteen pilots were repeat offenders and had their license suspended for three years, Prabhu said.

The licence of one pilot, who failed the test for the third time, was cancelled while four expatriate pilots lost their foreign licence for failing the test.

In 2017, Kathpalia was suspended for three months when he had allegedly refused to take a breathalyzer test before a flight to Bengaluru from New Delhi, the DGCA said.

In August 2018, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association, a trade union representing pilots of the state-owned carrier, filed a court case against Kathpalia requesting stern action against him over the missed breathalyzer tests and other behaviour.

Kathpalia was appointed operations director in June 2017. According to the job description at the time, he is responsible for flight operations, ground operations, and flight safety and training operations.

It is unclear if those remain the job specifications. It is also unclear if he will retain his position as operations director and stay on Air India's board.

Air safety watchdog on Monday suspended the licence of a senior Air India pilot, who is also the carrier's director of operations, for three years, a day after he failed two breathalyzer tests before a flight to London from New Delhi.

Air safety watchdog on Monday suspended the licence of a senior Air India pilot, who is also the carrier's director of operations, for three years, a day after he failed two breathalyzer tests before a flight to London from New Delhi. This is the second time Arvind Kathpalia has been in trouble over alcohol tests. He was suspended for three months in 2017 for allegedly refusing to take breathalyzer tests. "The privileges of his licence have been suspended for a period of three years from 11.11.2018 as per the provisions of applicable regulations," a spokesman at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement. Kathpalia, who sits on the airline's board, told Reuters the DGCA directive "is a rule and so it is meant to be followed". "At present, I don't see how" to contest it, he added. On Sunday, he had said that he would contest the results of the tests and claimed he was the victim of internal feuding within the loss-making state-owned airline. An Air India spokesman could not be reached for comment. India is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets with about 20 per cent growth in the number of passengers taking domestic and international flights over the past few years. More than 1 million flights departed from the country last fiscal year, ended March 31, according to DGCA data. Between 2015-2017, 132 pilots in India failed a breathalyzer test during the mandatory pre-flight examination, the Minister of Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu told parliament in August. Of these, 112 pilots were first-time offenders and their pilot licence was suspended for three months. Fifteen pilots were repeat offenders and had their license suspended for three years, Prabhu said. The licence of one pilot, who failed the test for the third time, was cancelled while four expatriate pilots lost their foreign licence for failing the test. In 2017, Kathpalia was suspended for three months when he had allegedly refused to take a breathalyzer test before a flight to Bengaluru from New Delhi, the DGCA said. In August 2018, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association, a trade union representing pilots of the state-owned carrier, filed a court case against Kathpalia requesting stern action against him over the missed breathalyzer tests and other behaviour. Kathpalia was appointed operations director in June 2017. According to the job description at the time, he is responsible for flight operations, ground operations, and flight safety and training operations. It is unclear if those remain the job specifications. It is also unclear if he will retain his position as operations director and stay on Air India's board.

DGCA suspends Air India pilot's licence for 3 years

An Indian Air Force Jaguar fighter jet crashed in Gujarat on Tuesday, killing its pilot, an official said.

The fighter jet crashed near Beraja-Ramaniya Village in Mundra taluka of Kutch.

An IAF spokesperson said the aircraft was on a routine training mission when it met with the accident at Jamnagar around 10.30 am.

"The pilot, Air Commodore Sanjay Chauhan, sustained fatal injuries during the crash," the spokesperson said.

A Court of Inquiry into the incident has been ordered by the air headquarters to investigate the cause of the accident, the sources said.&nbsp;

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(A file photo of&nbsp;Air Commodore Sanjay Chauhan with&nbsp;Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.)

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a>: Wreckage of IAF's Jaguar fighter jet that crashed in Kutch's Mundra, the aircraft was on a routine training mission from Jamnagar. The Pilot, Air Cmde Sanjay Chauhan, lost his life in the crash. Court of Inquiry ordered to investigate cause of accident. <a href="https://t.co/bGBiE2L53k">pic.twitter.com/bGBiE2L53k</a>
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The plane's debris was strewn far and wide on the outskirts of the village, locals said.

Debris of the aircraft kills some cattle grazing in the village.

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The fighter jet crashed near Beraja-Ramaniya Village in Mundra taluka of Kutch.

An Indian Air Force Jaguar fighter jet crashed in Gujarat on Tuesday, killing its pilot, an official said. The fighter jet crashed near Beraja-Ramaniya Village in Mundra taluka of Kutch. An IAF spokesperson said the aircraft was on a routine training mission when it met with the accident at Jamnagar around 10.30 am. "The pilot, Air Commodore Sanjay Chauhan, sustained fatal injuries during the crash," the spokesperson said. A Court of Inquiry into the incident has been ordered by the air headquarters to investigate the cause of the accident, the sources said. (A file photo of Air Commodore Sanjay Chauhan with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.) #Gujarat: Wreckage of IAF's Jaguar fighter jet that crashed in Kutch's Mundra, the aircraft was on a routine training mission from Jamnagar. The Pilot, Air Cmde Sanjay Chauhan, lost his life in the crash. Court of Inquiry ordered to investigate cause of accident. pic.twitter.com/bGBiE2L53k — ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2018 × The plane's debris was strewn far and wide on the outskirts of the village, locals said. Debris of the aircraft kills some cattle grazing in the village.

Indian Air Force pilot killed after Jaguar fighter jet crashes in Gujarat’s Kutch

Social networking giant Facebook is introducing a third-party fact-checking programme in India to combat the spread of "false news" on its platform, starting with a pilot in Karnataka, which goes to polls next month.

Facebook said it has partnered with BOOM, an independent digital journalism initiative certified through the International Fact-Checking Network, for a pilot in Karnataka.

Assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on May 12.

In a blogpost today, the US social networking giant said the programme in India aims "to fight the spread of false news on our platform".

BOOM will review English language news stories flagged on Facebook, check facts, and rate their accuracy, it said.

Facebook is running similar initiatives in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines and the US.

Over the last few weeks, Facebook has drawn intense criticism from users and governments globally over a number of issues, ranging from false news on the platform to information of over 80 million users being mined by data analytics and political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica.

The Indian government had also questioned both the companies on the impact of the data breach. Facebook had admitted that nearly 5.62 lakh people in India were "potentially affected" by the incident. 
Testifying before the US Congress, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had said his organisation was committed to ensure integrity of elections across the world, including India.

In its blogpost, the company said it believes that "once a story is rated as false, we have been able to reduce its distribution by 80 per cent, and thereby, improve accuracy of information on Facebook and reduce misinformation".

Facebook has already stated that it will use reports from community along with other signals to send stories to fact-checking organisations.

"We are beginning small and know it is important to learn from this test and listen to our community as we continue to update ways for people to understand what might be false news in their News Feed," it said.

Detailing out the process, Facebook said after a story is rated as false by the fact-checker, it will figure lower in News Feed, "significantly reducing its distribution".

"This in turn stops the hoax from spreading and reduces the number of people who see it. Pages and domains that repeatedly share false news will also see their distribution reduced and their ability to monetise and advertise removed," it said.

This, Facebook said, will help curb the spread of "financially motivated false news".

"We also want to empower people to decide for themselves what to read, trust, and share by providing the community with more information and control... If third-party fact-checkers write articles debunking a false news story, we'll show it in Related Articles immediately below the story in News Feed," Facebook said.

Facebook will also send people and Page administrators notifications if they try to share a story or have shared one in the past that has been determined to be false.

"While third party fact checking is part of our ongoing efforts to combat spread of false news, we are working hard to improve the accuracy of information on Facebook in various ways," it added.&nbsp

Karnataka goes to the polls on May 12. The fact-checking services will be provided by a third party

Social networking giant Facebook is introducing a third-party fact-checking programme in India to combat the spread of "false news" on its platform, starting with a pilot in Karnataka, which goes to polls next month. Facebook said it has partnered with BOOM, an independent digital journalism initiative certified through the International Fact-Checking Network, for a pilot in Karnataka. Assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on May 12. In a blogpost today, the US social networking giant said the programme in India aims "to fight the spread of false news on our platform". BOOM will review English language news stories flagged on Facebook, check facts, and rate their accuracy, it said. Facebook is running similar initiatives in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines and the US. Over the last few weeks, Facebook has drawn intense criticism from users and governments globally over a number of issues, ranging from false news on the platform to information of over 80 million users being mined by data analytics and political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica. The Indian government had also questioned both the companies on the impact of the data breach. Facebook had admitted that nearly 5.62 lakh people in India were "potentially affected" by the incident. Testifying before the US Congress, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had said his organisation was committed to ensure integrity of elections across the world, including India. In its blogpost, the company said it believes that "once a story is rated as false, we have been able to reduce its distribution by 80 per cent, and thereby, improve accuracy of information on Facebook and reduce misinformation". Facebook has already stated that it will use reports from community along with other signals to send stories to fact-checking organisations. "We are beginning small and know it is important to learn from this test and listen to our community as we continue to update ways for people to understand what might be false news in their News Feed," it said. Detailing out the process, Facebook said after a story is rated as false by the fact-checker, it will figure lower in News Feed, "significantly reducing its distribution". "This in turn stops the hoax from spreading and reduces the number of people who see it. Pages and domains that repeatedly share false news will also see their distribution reduced and their ability to monetise and advertise removed," it said. This, Facebook said, will help curb the spread of "financially motivated false news". "We also want to empower people to decide for themselves what to read, trust, and share by providing the community with more information and control... If third-party fact-checkers write articles debunking a false news story, we'll show it in Related Articles immediately below the story in News Feed," Facebook said. Facebook will also send people and Page administrators notifications if they try to share a story or have shared one in the past that has been determined to be false. "While third party fact checking is part of our ongoing efforts to combat spread of false news, we are working hard to improve the accuracy of information on Facebook in various ways," it added.

Facebook introduces fact-checking programme to fight fake news; starts pilot in Karnataka

Insolvent German airline Air Berlin said around 100 flight cancellations caused on Tuesday (September 12) by large numbers of pilots calling in sick were threatening its existence and hurting its chances of saving jobs as it seeks investors for parts of the business.

The airline said around 200 pilots, mainly captains, had called in sick as hundreds of stranded passengers crowded the departures terminal at Berlin&#39;s Tegel airport.

While some took it with humour, others were raging with anger, saying the pilots should just &quot;do their job.&quot;

Union Vereinigung Cockpit said in a statement it was surprised by the absences and that it had not called on its members to call in sick.

The airline said around 200 pilots, mainly captains, had called in sick as hundreds of stranded passengers crowded the departures terminal at Berlin's Tegel airport.

Insolvent German airline Air Berlin said around 100 flight cancellations caused on Tuesday (September 12) by large numbers of pilots calling in sick were threatening its existence and hurting its chances of saving jobs as it seeks investors for parts of the business. The airline said around 200 pilots, mainly captains, had called in sick as hundreds of stranded passengers crowded the departures terminal at Berlin's Tegel airport. While some took it with humour, others were raging with anger, saying the pilots should just "do their job." Union Vereinigung Cockpit said in a statement it was surprised by the absences and that it had not called on its members to call in sick.

Air Berlin cancels 100 flights as pilots call in sick

An airplane powered solely by the sun landed safely in Seville in Spain early today after an almost three-day flight across the Atlantic from New York in one of the longest legs of the first ever fuel-less flight around the world. 
 
The single-seat Solar Impulse 2 touched down shortly after 7.30 a.m. local time in Seville after leaving John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 2.30 a.m. EDT on June 20. 
 
The flight of just over 71 hours was the 15th leg of the round-the-world journey by the plane piloted in turns by Swiss aviators Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg. 
 
&quot;Oh-la-la, absolutely perfect,&quot; Piccard said after landing, thanking his engineering crew for their efforts. 
 
With a cruising speed of around 70 kilometres an hour (43 miles per hour), similar to an average car, the plane has more than 17,0000 solar cells built in to wings with a span bigger than that of a Boeing 747. 
 
(Reuters)

The flight of just over 71 hours was the 15th leg of the round-the-world journey piloted by Bertrand Piiccard and Andre Borschbe

An airplane powered solely by the sun landed safely in Seville in Spain early today after an almost three-day flight across the Atlantic from New York in one of the longest legs of the first ever fuel-less flight around the world. The single-seat Solar Impulse 2 touched down shortly after 7.30 a.m. local time in Seville after leaving John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 2.30 a.m. EDT on June 20. The flight of just over 71 hours was the 15th leg of the round-the-world journey by the plane piloted in turns by Swiss aviators Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg. "Oh-la-la, absolutely perfect," Piccard said after landing, thanking his engineering crew for their efforts. With a cruising speed of around 70 kilometres an hour (43 miles per hour), similar to an average car, the plane has more than 17,0000 solar cells built in to wings with a span bigger than that of a Boeing 747. (Reuters)

Solar plane lands in Spain after three-day Atlantic crossing

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