Lieutenant Commander K. S. Rathore was an Indian Navy officer serving with Indian Naval Air Squadron 315, the maritime reconnaissance squadron known as the “Winged Stallions”.
On 1 October 2002, the squadron was conducting a ceremonial flypast near Dabolim Naval Air Base in Goa to mark its 25th anniversary.
Two Ilyushin-38 maritime reconnaissance aircraft, each carrying six naval personnel, were flying in close formation during the flypast.
At approximately 9:54 a.m., the aircraft collided in mid-air near Dabolim. Both aircraft subsequently crashed.
Lieutenant Commander Rathore was among the six crew members aboard one of the aircraft. He made the supreme sacrifice along with the other 11 naval personnel aboard the two aircraft.
The Ilyushin-38 was a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft used by the Indian Navy for maritime surveillance and related missions. INAS 315 had operated the type since its establishment.
The accident brought a tragic end to the squadron's silver jubilee celebrations. The 12 naval personnel who died in the collision are remembered as part of the squadron's history.
Lieutenant Commander K. S. Rathore's name remains recorded among those who made the supreme sacrifice on 1 October 2002.
