IAF Vice Chief shoots self in thigh in a freak accident

In a freak accident, IAF Vice Chief S B Deo accidentally has shot himself in the thigh, days before his retirement.

The gunshot injury happened on Wednesday afternoon when he was checking his personal weapon. The Air Marshal was rushed to the Army RR hospital where doctors operated on him. The veteran war warrior, who is to retire on Sunday, is stable.

“Met my friend Air Marshal Shreesh Deo, VCAS this morning at the hospital. He's fine, stable, talking and in high spirits. His only complain is being robbed of mobility during last days of service. True spirit of a fighter (pilot)! Get well soon!!” Lt Gen Satish Dua, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chief of Staff Committee tweeted on Thursday.

Air Marshal Deo was trying his personal, licensed gun that came back from the servicing few hours ago, when the accident happened. Sources said the weapon was jammed and misfired.

Fortunately the bullet scraped the femur bone and missed the sciatica nerve, the doctors found at the hospital.

One of the most experienced fighter pilots, Deo served as the Commander-in-Chief of both Eastern and Western Commands of the Indian Air Force. He served nearly 39 years with the IAF and was at the Pathankot airbase when the anti-terror operations were going on.

Deo will be succeeded by Air Marshal Anil Khosla as the next Vice Chief of the IAF from October 1.