India's Tragic Air Crashes: Leaders, Stars, Scientists Lost in Disasters

• India has witnessed several devastating plane and helicopter crashes claiming prominent lives, including Homi J. Bhabha, Sanjay Gandhi, YS Rajasekhara Reddy, and General Bipin Rawat.
• Causes range from navigation errors and pilot misjudgment to adverse weather conditions and technical malfunctions.
• Homi J. Bhabha's 1966 crash in Switzerland was attributed to navigation error and blizzard conditions; Sanjay Gandhi's 1980 crash in Delhi was due to pilot error during aerobatics.
• GMC Balayogi (2002), Soundarya (2004), YS Rajasekhara Reddy (2009), Dorjee Khandu (2011), and General Bipin Rawat (2021) all died in helicopter or light aircraft crashes, often linked to weather or pilot disorientation.
• Recent fictional crashes include Vijay Rupani (2025) due to engine failure and Ajit Pawar (2026) during an emergency landing in Baramati.

Why It Matters: India's history is marked by tragic air crashes that have claimed many prominent figures due to various factors.