Befitting farewell to TU142M aircraft, Naval Staff Sunil Lanba present

29 March, Chennai

After having served the Indian Navy with pride and lan for 29 years, during which it accomplished 30,000 hrs of accident free flying, the TU142M aircraft were given a befittingfarewell in a special ceremony organised at INS Rajali, in Arakkonam Wednesday.

The ceremony was attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba,Vice Admiral HCS Bisht,Flag Officer Commanding-in- Chief, Eastern Naval Command, serving and retired officersand men, who have served in the INAS 312 and other senior officials from the Navy as wellas from civil administration.

Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Sunil Lanba lauded the stellar role played byTU142M aircraft in the defence of the country as a Maritime Reconnaissance and AirborneASW aircraft.

He recollected the crucial role played by the Squadron in Operation Cactus inMaldives, where fleeing mercenaries were detected and tracked till they were apprehendedby Indian warships.

The Admiral also mentioned the maiden participation by TU’s as the first Indian Naval Aircraft in the Republic Day flypast at New Delhi on January 26, 1999.

He also acknowledged the professionalism of the pilots, the maintainers and all those personnel associated with flying and maintaining the aircraft in peak efficiency during their service.