A tragic crash in Delhi that altered national politics
Recounting the 1980 accident that killed Sanjay Gandhi, as told by the paper that day
Mr Sanjay Gandhi, son of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, died in a plane crash near Willingdon Crescent here this morning. Capt Subhash Saxena, a former Chief Instructor of the Delhi Flying Club who accompanied Mr Gandhi in the plane — a two-seater red Pitts — also died in the crash. The plane had taken off from the Safdarjung Airport at about 8am and crashed at about 8.10am.
According to an official spokesman, “it was not clear who flew the plane. Both Mr Gandhi and Mr Saxena were qualified to fly it. The plane was duly certified and cleared by the Director General of Civil Aviation.”
The plane struck a tree before crashing down by the side of some barracks behind the NDMC housing complex, Palika Vihar, in Willingdon Crescent. Incidentally, Mr Gandhi’s house — 12, Willingdon Crescent — was not far from the accident site.
The plane did not catch fire but plenty of smoke was emitted by its wreckage, according to eyewitnesses. The wreckage was limited to a small area. At 8.10am, the Safdarjung Airport control tower saw the aircraft going behind Ashok Hotel. When it was no longer noticeable and about 10 minutes passed, the airport sounded the sirens. The driver of Mr Gandhi’s car rushed to the spot of the possible accident. Mrs Gandhi was informed at about 8.20am and she left for the spot accompanied by security staff. By the time she reached there, the bodies had been taken out by breaking open the sides of the aircraft and cutting off the safety belts. Sobbing, Mrs Gandhi accompanied them to the Lohia Hospital in an ambulance. Mrs Maneka Gandhi, along with other relatives, reached the hospital soon thereafter. At the hospital, Mr Gandhi and Mr Saxena were declared dead.
As the news spread, Mrs Gandhi’s Cabinet colleagues, Vice President M Hidayatullah, the service chiefs, top government officials including the Lt Governor, and several important political leaders reached the hospital.
The medical formalities at the hospital were over by 1.45pm, when Mr Sanjay Gandhi’s body bedecked with flowers was taken on a police van to the Prime Minister’s house. Mrs Gandhi and Mrs Maneka sat beside the body on the van. Mr Rajiv Gandhi, Mrs Gandhi’s eldest son, and his family who are presently in Italy are arriving here to participate in the cremation ceremony. Earlier, the Safdarjung Airport authorities said that Mr Gandhi and Mr Saxena had taken off in the aircraft and they were to be in the air for an hour.
The aircraft had taken the weather clearance before taking off. Top civil aviation and police officials were unable to say anything about the cause of the crash. Before leaving home at 7.30am for the airport this morning, Mr Gandhi had informed his mother.
He had flown the plane last evening also and had taken along with him his wife Maneka, Dhirendra Brahmachari and Mr RK Dhawan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister.
Mr Gandhi had made two sorties and was in the air for a total of 42 minutes.
Excerpts from a report published in HT’s edition of June 24, 1980.