In Pics | Prominent Indian personalities who died in air crashes

The latest incident involving the death of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and other officials in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu serves as a harsh reminder of several prominent personalities who have perished in air crashes in the past. Here's a look at significant personalities India has lost in air crashes:

One of the first instances was the one where freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose died following an air crash in Taiwan. Although, there has been some controversy over his death. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy died in an air accident in 2009. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Sanjay Gandhi, the younger son of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was killed when a glider that he was flying crashed in 1980. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Senior Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia was killed in a Cessna aircraft crash in 2001. Credit: Twitter/@chennithala

Lok Sabha Speaker and Telugu Desam leader G M C Balayogi died in a chopper crash in 2002. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

OP Jindal, Haryana's then power minister and a leading industrialist died in 2005 in a crash after the chopper developed a technical snag. Credit: Jindal

Punjab Governor Surendra Nath and nine members of his family were killed when the government's Super-King aircraft crashed into a mountain due to a bad weather in 1994 in Himachal Pradesh. Credit: Punjab Raj Bhavan

Arunachal Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu was found dead near the China border in 2011 after his helicopter went missing. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

CDS General Bipin Rawat accompanied by his wife Madhulika Rawat, his staff and other officials were killed in an IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter crash on December 8 in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. Credit: PTI Photo