Body of IAF copter crash victim cremated

Manoj, working in the Air Force Station at Sulur on the city outskirts, was among the nine IAF personnel who perished in the mid-air collision of two helicopters while practicing for a bombing mission at Samrat Range in Jamnagar on Thursday.

The body was brought to the city by a special flight last night and kept for the public to pay their last respects.

After full State and Defence honours, the body was consigned to flames.

Senior IAF officials, relatives of Manoj and friends were present in large numbers.

Manoj was a native of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and leaves behind wife, Rajalakshmi, who is also a squadron leader in the Sulur Station and 4-year old daughter.

 

He was commissioned in the Flying Branch of IAF in 2002, an official release said.

During his tenure, Manoj was also a member of UN Mission Contingent in Congo for one year from October, 2007.