LIEUTENANT COMMANDERLieutenant Commander S. K. Yadav was an officer of the Indian Navy serving with Indian Naval Air Squadron 315.
On 1 October 2002, INAS 315 was observing the 25th anniversary of its commissioning at INS Hansa in Goa. The occasion included a ceremonial flypast by the squadron's Ilyushin-38 maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
Two IL-38 aircraft were flying together near Dabolim during the flypast. At approximately 9:54 a.m., the aircraft collided in mid-air.
Lieutenant Commander S. K. Yadav was aboard one of the aircraft and made the supreme sacrifice in the resulting crash.
The second aircraft was also involved in the collision, and both aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Dabolim. Each aircraft carried six naval personnel.
The accident resulted in the loss of all 12 naval personnel aboard the two aircraft.
The tragedy occurred on a day that was intended to commemorate 25 years of service by INAS 315. Instead, it became one of the most solemn dates in the squadron's history.
Lieutenant Commander S. K. Yadav's name is preserved among the 12 Indian Navy personnel who made the supreme sacrifice on 1 October 2002.
The Honour Post remembers his service and honours his supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.
