India Sacks 3 IAF Officers For Accidentally Firing Missile Towards Pakistan

The Indian Air Force says the government has sacked three officers for accidentally firing a missile into rival Pakistan in March.

"A BrahMos missile was accidentally fired on 09 March 2022. A Court of Inquiry (Col), set up to establish the facts of the case, including fixing responsibility for the incident, found that deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by three officers led to the accidental firing of the missile," the Air Force said in a statement.

"These three officers have primarily been held responsible for the incident. Their services have been terminated by the Central Govt with immediate effect. Termination orders have been served upon the officers on 23 Aug 22," it added.

It is also learnt that a Senior Non Commissioned Officer (SNCO) played a significant role in averting a bigger disaster by quick actions once the Brahmos had been accidentally fired. Firing and training protocols for missile units under the Air Force have been revised since the accident took place, with additional safety measures put into place.

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The BrahMos cruise missile, fired from India on March 9, landed in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province and damaged a wall in a residential area. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Pakistan's military at the time said it tracked the missile from its launch and during its three-minute flight inside Pakistan.

Pakistani officials demanded an explanation from India, criticising the launch as a "flagrant violation" of the country's airspace.

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