The Indian Air Force (IAF) has provided an explanation to the Delhi High Court regarding the inadvertent firing of a BrahMos supersonic missile that ended up in Pakistan two years ago.
As reported by The Economic Times, the IAF informed the High Court that the combat connectors of the BrahMos missile “remained attached to the junction box,” resulting in the unintended firing in Pakistan.
According to the IAF, the incident resulted in a loss of ₹25 crore to the government exchequer and had a detrimental impact on the relations between India and Pakistan.
The IAF’s Court of Inquiry investigated the matter, identifying Group Captain Saurabh Gupta, Squadron Leader Pranjal Singh, and Wing Commander Abhinav Sharma – all members of the Combat Team – as responsible for the mishap.
The incident posed a potential threat to airborne or ground objects and personnel, tarnishing the reputation of the Indian Air Force and the nation, with a financial loss of ₹24,90,85,000.00 to the government exchequer.
This response comes following a petition filed by Wing Commander Abhinav Sharma in the Delhi High Court, assigning blame to Air Commodore and Squadron Leader for alleged negligence of safety protocols.
The IAF rejected allegations against Air Commodore JT Kurien, asserting that all activities were carried out in the presence of Wing Commander Sharma, who witnessed the operations.
The accidental firing occurred on March 9, 2022, due to human error during routine maintenance, as clarified by the IAF, attributing the incident to a technical malfunction.
The BrahMos missile incident underscores the importance of stringent safety measures and protocols in military operations.
