Captain Dipak Vasant Sathe, pilot of the ill-fated Air India Express flight who had died when the aircraft skidded off the runway in Kerala on Friday night was an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune.
Survivors said the aircraft’s captain helped save their lives as he used his presence of mind and averted a fire after the accident. Sources say that Captain Sathe turned off the engine right before the crash, saving the lives of his passengers and the cabin crew.
The former IAF fighter pilot belonged to the 58th Course of the NDA, Kharakvasla, where he was a gold medalist, Air Force sources said. After this, he joinded the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, and was part of the 127th Pilot’s Course, where he was awarded the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’.
Wing Commander Sathe had also served as a test pilot with the Air Force and was commissioned in June 1981 and retired in 2003.
He had also served with No 17 Squadron, the Golden Arrows, which was recently recommissioned for the Rafale fighter jet.
According to sources, Sathe was very experienced on the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which he flew with the national flag carrier.
His body along with that of his co-pilot have been kept at the MIMS Hospital in Kozhikode.
