Trainee pilot's body cremated

Bangalore: Akash, the trainee pilot from Bangalore, who was killed in a tragic mid-air accident in Australia around a fortnight ago, was cremated in Bangalore on Thursday.
At the T R Mills cremation ground, the mortal remains of Akash were consigned to flames. A large number of family friends and well wishers of Anantha Padmanabhan had gathered at the crematorium to bid adieu to the departed soul.
Akash, who was undergoing training, met with the accident when an aircraft of another trainee pilot, hit his aircraft from behind and damaged the wings.
As a result, the aircraft crashed, killing Akash on the spot. People queued up at Akash’s residence and condoled the grieving family members.
Akash was the only child of the Padmanabhans. Anantha Padmanabhan said around 250 schoolchildren from Australia paid homage to his son by placing a wreath. He said the Indian community too helped them in bringing back the body.
According to the first hand information, Akash was flying solo on a low altitude of around 1,000 metres when the aircraft was damaged following a collision with another aircraft.
“How is it possible that two trainees are allowed at a time to fly at the same altitude and in the same direction? The Air Traffic Control Authority would easily find out how it happened as everything would be recorded in the radar, said the aggrieved father.
He expressed his faith on the Australian authorities in conducting a fair probe and find out the facts behind the incident.
11/09/08 Mangalorean.com