Archive · 11 Jun 2025
General's Harrowing Escape: Plane Fire Leads to Miraculous Survival
In 1952, General Shrinagesh and other officers were flying when their plane's engine caught fire.
The pilot skillfully handled the emergency; the engine fell off, and he landed the plane safely in a field.
Everyone survived the ordeal.
The General's wife was initially worried until she heard they were safe.
The pilot's bravery earned him a medal for saving everyone.
General SM Shrinagesh and four other army officers were returning from a conference when their plane caught fire.
A fire erupted in the port engine, but the pilot managed to regain control after the engine fell off.
The plane made a successful emergency landing in a harvested field in near darkness.
Search parties were sent out, believing the plane had crashed, and the General's wife was initially informed the plane had caught fire mid-air.
The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Biswas, was awarded the Ashoka Chakra for his skillful handling of the emergency.
- Who
- General SM Shrinagesh, Flight Lieutenant Biswas (pilot), and other senior army officers
- What
- A plane carrying senior army officers experienced an engine fire and made an emergency landing.
- When
- February 3, 1952
- Where
- Near Lucknow, India
- Why
- The engine caught fire mid-flight, necessitating an emergency landing.
- Aircraft Type
- de Havilland Devon
- Incident Date
- February 3, 1952
- Location
- Near Lucknow, India
- Pilot
- Flight Lieutenant Biswas
- Award
- Ashoka Chakra, Class I