If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.
Confucius
Yet, many times when a mistake is made, people try to pretend that it did not happen or attempt to justify the wrong position or try to cover it up, which leads to additional mistakes. Quite often, more damage is done to credibility, relationships, trust and integrity when we attempt to cover it by lying. Of course, there is another choice when a mistake is made—admit it, learn from it and correct it. There is power in properly admitting a mistake.
Yesterday on 25 Aug 2020, my coursemate Sunil Kumar recounted an incident that took place 26 years ago in our Whatsapp group. This was the first message in the group that morning and after that, there were plenty of thought-provoking messages. This is what he wrote..
“26 years back on this same day, I had another birthday..
On 25 Aug1994, I got airborne for a solo sortie on MiG -21 type 77 at Air Force Station Bagdogra. It was a beautiful morning with a clear blue sky with few clouds hanging around majestic snow-clad Kangchenjunga, but fate turned different for me on that day. The flight was uneventful and I joined the visual circuit for runway 36. On approach to landing, the speeds were slightly high but I continued. The flare was also slightly delayed. All pointing to a catastrophe.
The aircraft touches down in the process of flare. Bounced. On the second impact, the nose undercarriage broke off.. ac started scraping on the runway.
Next port undercarriage gave away and the aircraft moved to the left of runway outside the runway edges into the mud area.
Luckily by then, I had switched off the engines.
As the MiG 21 moved to the muddy area, it did a 210-degree turn and came on its back Inverted..with me inside it safely.
The aircraft stopped inverted with gallons and gallons of fuel inside. Waiting to catch the fire🔥.
I was hanging by the straps inverted. My first reaction was to kick the LP cock to off with my legs in an inverted position. But fear of ejection seat firing inadvertently or by mistake of kicking at a wrong place stopped me from doing that.
By then the ever-ready Crash and Fire Rescue vehicles were already there to put out the fire. I still remember the first person to come to my rescue was Gp Capt Dabral who was at the runway crossing in his vehicle waiting for the aircraft to land so that he along with other vehicles could cross the runway.
They tried to pull me out of the ac in an inverted position..but I was firmly attached to the seat with the strap. Finally, someone came with a grass cutters sickle which I used to cut the strap and freed my self to be pulled out.
Taken to MI room given medicines and injection to sleep..but sleep never came on that day..
It taught me a big lesson, accident can happen to you any time. No one is immune to it..
So today is another birthday for me. Cheers to life and friendship.❤️”
All of us make mistakes – it is part of learning and growing. He has been very humble in accepting his mistakes and while admitting he has displayed strength, courage, and leadership as well.
Some of you might be wondering if he is still flying? In his own words “26 years after that day, I still enter any cockpit with the same enthusiasm and interest. Airforce has certainly made me fly from Indira col to Indira point and from westernmost part of India to easternmost part”. Yes, he did admit his mistakes and learned lessons well. How many of us can do that?
Exactly the same accident had happened just six months back. The pilot had landed, broke aircraft undercarriage, cartwheeled, and lay inverted. The same ditch. The only difference was that the aircraft had caught fire and nobody could reach him in time. So was MiG 21 a poor design and does Sunil hate that aircraft? He says, “MiG-21 has been one of the most beautiful flying machines ever made till today. At times it is a wonder that by the design it flies so well and so fast”. He further adds, “The only injuries I had were some minor scratches on my hand. I had back pain for some years. The poor MiG 21 took all the impact in saving my life. It was almost totally damaged beyond repairs. So I have to first thank the aircraft for saving me”.
Another honest question, was it difficult for him to enter the cockpit again after the incident? The question brings out the quality of leadership in the Indian Air Force. He clarifies, “Not difficult I must say. Life goes on….Life moves on to face another day and another instance like this. Airforce has a tradition whereby in case of a fatal accident in a squadron all the pilots in the squadron flies at the next opportunity to take out the fear. We all have seen many of our friends going away ..but overall, airforce taught us that it part of life and we need to move on to another day for another mission”.
It was a harrowing experience not only for him but for those of us around him. The IAF was going through a tough time. It did not have a fighter trainer aircraft those days. The pilots moved directly from subsonic aircraft like Kiran to Supersonic aircraft. It was a big technological jump as well as a jump in speed. From a maximum speed of 480 Kmph to speed of 2500 Kmph. MiG-21 was designed as a fighter aircraft but IAF was using it as a trainer due to lack of suitable aircraft. There were no simulators in those days. The IAF has moved a long way since then. Despite all the lacunas, IAF leadership did a commendable job in maintaining morale and keeping the accident rate low. The IAF maintained not only the combat edge but managed to rebuild the confidence of its pilots also.
Anyone can get dejected after a big failure like this. But thanks to immaculate training, leadership, and ownership Sunil is still flying with the same zeel as 26 years back.
Cheers, Sunil.
So cheers to life and happy landings.
🙏
Click here to read my previous article on MiG 21- ‘Love her or Hate her’.
Click here to read my previous article on ‘Critical Thinking for Pilots: Self debrief and Learning from our own mistakes…’
