TRAGEDY// Ten personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) were killed on December 22 as a small plane crashed near the Delhi airport just after take-off. All on board the B 200 Super King — three officers and seven senior technicians — were killed. The plane, a 22-year-old Beechcraft, took off for Ranchi at around 9.45 am. It crashed just moments later. There was no distress call or communication, say sources. The plane swerved to the left after take-off, narrowly missing a village. It then flew over a train track and clipped a tree before slamming into the boundary wall of the airport and crashing into a water treatment plant in the airport compound. The aircraft burst into flames and was almost completely wrecked. Thick smoke rose from the debris just after the crash.

The actual reason for the crash is under investigation but prima facie reports reveal engine failure as the main reason. The engines had been overhauled six months ago and there were no plans to decommission the aircraft. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma has said an investigation has been ordered.