Indian Air Force Plane Mystery: Closure after 56 Years

Decades after an Indian Air Force aircraft vanished in the Himalayas, families find peace as more bodies, including Thomas Cherian's, are recovered.

The recovery of more bodies from a 1968 Indian Air Force crash site in the Himalayas has brought long-awaited closure to families of the victims, including that of Thomas Cherian, identified over 56 years post-crash. Cherian, an army craftsman, was on board the ill-fated flight as it flew over the Rohtang Pass towards Leh, when it disappeared due to severe weather. From 2003 onwards, as bodies and debris were sporadically unearthed, the fate of the missing passengers gradually came to light. Most recently, a successful joint effort by the Dogra Scouts and Tiranga Mountain Rescue unearthed four more bodies at 16,000 feet near Dhaka glacier, using advanced technology like satellite imagery and Recco radar. Cherian's identity was confirmed via his uniform and personal documents. This discovery, though marked with continued sorrow, has relieved families by providing long-sought closure. Cherian's family, who had long awaited news, finally held his funeral on October 3, grateful for the continued efforts of the Indian Army. Meanwhile, similar sentiments resonate among other families, such as that of Narayan Singh in Uttarakhand, who grapple with relief amid longstanding grief. Additional reporting by Asif Ali highlights the impact on these families, many of whom withstood years of uncertainty, holding on to dwindling hopes of their loved ones' return. The story underlines the enduring emotional toll that aviation mysteries can exert on families and communities.