Dead chopper pilot’s family in a state of shock

Bengaluru: The colleagues and friends of Pawan Hans pilot Captain Rajeev Hoskote, who died in a helicopter crash in Arunachal Pradesh last week, are in shock to learn the incident.

Rajeev, who hails from Mysuru, leaves behind a large group of friends in Bengaluru and Mysuru. His family members and some close friends have now reached Arunachal Pradesh to bring back the pilot’s mortal remains.

Pawan Hans has large numbers of pilots drawn from Indian Air Force (IAF) as well as private flying schools and Rajeev had earned many friends on the line of duty. “He was flying till the very end and it is shocking to know that we cannot see him anymore. As a trainee I have received good support from Rajeev. The entire crew is shocked to lose one of the best pilots we had,” said one of his colleague at Pawan Hans.

The chopper, being piloted by Rajeev and another pilot Captain M.S. Brar, went missing in the wooded areas of Arunachal Pradesh on August 4. For the next one week the chopper remained untraced till a team of IAF men found the wreckage and the bodies of all three occupants, including an IAS officer, in Sangliam village of Arunachal Pradesh.

“Captain Rajeev has flown number so hours in chopper and attended several VIP pick up and drops before. He has also worked in different terrains. He was flying the twin engine Dauphin VT-PHK helicopter when the incident occurred. We are not sure about the reason for the crash. But erratic weather conditions and challenges that occur while steering the chopper between the mountains may have caused the accident. Once the Black Box of the chopper is recovered it could throw light over the reason for the tragic accident,” said another pilot, who was close to Rajeev.