From Airborne to Alarmed: IAF Orders Inquiry Into Metal Object’s Sudden Descent on Home

A serious incident occurred in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh today after a heavy metallic object, suspected to have fallen from an Indian Air Force (IAF) plane, fell on a residential house and caused substantial damage to its structure. The IAF has said it is conducting a formal inquiry into the incident. 

 

The object fell on the house of Manoj Sagar, a school teacher, around 11 am in Pichhore town. Witnesses explained the object fell astray of the house with a loud blast sound disturbing the air, tearing off the roof, destroying two rooms, and causing an 8 to 10-feet deep pit in the courtyard. The debris also damaged a car parked at the site. At the time of the incident, Manoj was at home with his children while his wife was in the kitchen. Fortunately, all the family managed to escape unharmed and only one woman outside the house got minor abrasions. 

 

The local police and administration staff quickly cordoned off the area. SP Aman Singh Rathor, confirmed in a statement that four persons were in the house and are safe, and that the incident is being investigated in cooperation with the Air Force and other agencies. 

 

The IAF also confirmed the incident in a posting on X and expressed its regret for the damage sustained, clarifying that the object was a "non-explosive aerial store" that was accidentally released from an aircraft. The posting noted, "The IAF regrets the damage caused today to property on ground, near Shivpuri, by the inadvertent drop of a non-explosive aerial store from an IAF aircraft, and has instituted an inquiry into the incident." 

 

Officials noted that the object appeared very solid and had burn markings which could support the theory that it detached during a training flight. The airbase in Gwalior was called and a team of experts will be arriving shortly to examine the object and confirm its origin. 

 

No residents were injured and assured there would be a thorough inquiry to prevent similar incidents from occurring. 

 

Source: The Print