New Delhi: The Indian Air Force on Monday made it clear that there were no Chinese parts or components in its fleet of C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, even as pilot error remains a strong possibility as a reason for the crash of the aircraft on March 28.
Sources virtually ruled out any technical snag in the aircraft but stopped short of mentioning pilot error as the possible cause of the crash. However, the IAF could officially disclose the reasons for the crash within a couple of days since both the Flight Data Recorder (black box) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the ill-fated aircraft are currently being decoded in the United States.
What is clear, as of now, is that the aircraft was on a low-flying tactical exercise when it crashed. The probe will examine whether there was any error of judgement or miscalculation by the pilots that could have resulted in an error.
All available indications have not pointed to the possibility of any technical snag in the four engine aircraft.
Following media reports two years ago that a US Senate report had indicated the possible presence of Chinese cou-nterfeit parts in the plane’s Multi-Functional Display (MFD), the Ind-ian government had sent the components in its fleet to the US for testing. This was done after India had raised the matter with the US government and the aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
Sources said that in actual combat conditions, one of the mission objectives of aircraft like the Super Hercules is to evade radars, enter ene-my territory and insert troops. A tactical exercise was being conducted to simulate various scenarios.
The IAF probe may also include inputs from pilots of the other Super Hercules aircraft that was part of the tactical exercise.
