3 IAF officers sacked for accidentally firing missile into Pakistan in March

Indian Air Force on Tuesday said that three officers have primarily been held responsible for the BrahMos missile misfiring incident earlier this year on March 8, 2022. Their services have been terminated by Central Govt with immediate effect. “Termination orders have been served upon the officers today, 23rd August,” news agency ANI report said.

Additionally, officials have noted that the Court of Inquiry found deviation from SOP by 3 officers led to accidental firing of Brahmos missile that landed in Pakistan, news agency PTI report said.

The defence ministry on Tuesday terminated the services of three officials of the Indian Air Force after a high-level probe held them responsible for the March 9 accidental firing of a Brahmos missile that landed in Pakistan and the Court of Inquiry (CoA) into the incident found that deviation from the SOP by three officers led to the accidental firing of the missile, according to news agency PTI report.

Following the incident, the defence ministry described it as "deeply regrettable" and as per the official statement, “a BrahMos missile was accidentally fired on March 9. 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.”

"These three officers have primarily been held responsible for the incident. Their services have been terminated by the central government with immediate effect. Termination orders have been served upon the officers on August 23," it said. 

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)