Kiran Shekhawat

Kiran Shekhawat was the first Indian woman officer to die in the line of duty, a pilot with the Indian Navy, the woman Naval officer died in a Dornier crash off the Goa coast on March 24, 2015. Lt. Shekhawat was the wife of another Naval officer Vivek Chhoker.

Events

Shekhawat, an Observer, had taken part in the first all-women marching contingent of the Navy during the Republic Day parade. The maritime surveillance aircraft had crashed south-west off Goa coast on Tuesday night at 2208 hours was flown by Commander Nikhil Kuldip Joshi, who was flying the aircraft and had 4,000 flying hours to his credit, was rescued about an hour after the crash by a fishing vessel.

Recovery

The INS Makar, a naval hydrographic vessel, had detected a large metallic object using its side-scan sonar at a depth of 50-60 metres. Later it was confirmed to be remains of the ill-fated aircraft.

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