He was a great son: Mother of retired IAF pilot who died in plane crash

Kozhikode: "He was a great son and always the first one to help others in need. He sacrificed his life for the country," said Neela Sathe, the mother of late captain DV Sathe, who was flying the Air India flight that crash-landed at Kozhikode airport on Friday, claiming 18 lives.

Indian Army Retired Colonel Vasant Sathe and his wife Neela lost both their sons in line of duty. The couple is originally from Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Speaking to ANI, Neela broke into tears and said, "He was a great son and always the first one to help others in need. His teachers still appreciate him. During the Ahmedabad floods, he saved the children of the soldiers by lifting them in his arms. I wish God would have called us instead of him." 

"Both our children sacrificed their lives for the country," she added. 

Remembering DV Sathe's childhood, Neela talked about every that moment when he made his parents proud. 

Neela told with great pride that Captain DV Sathe had received the Sword of Honor and had also won eight medals in the Air Force. She last talked to DV Sathe over phone call a few days ago during which captain told her mother not to go out of the house amid COVID-19 crisis as if something happens to her, he won't be able to bear that. 

Vasant, captain's father, retired as a colonel after serving in the Army for 30 years. Following the footsteps of their father, both his sons joined too the Army.

Their elder son Vikas was in the Army, and at the age of 22, he was martyred in an accident in Ferozepur in 1981. Their younger son Deepak (DV Sathe), who served as a pilot in Air India after serving in the Indian Air Force, died in the plane crash on Friday. 

An Air India Express plane carrying 190 passengers including 10 infants skidded while landing at Karipur Airport in Kozhikode on Friday evening.