The Air India crew who were awarded Ashok Chakras


On April 11th, 1955, a chartered Air India flight named 'Kashmir Princess' was carrying a small delegation of Chinese and East Europeans, mainly journalists, from Hongkong to Indonesia to attend the Asia-Afro Bandung Conference in Indonesia. In command was Capt.D.K.Jatar.
 
At about 18,000 feet a time-bomb detonated in the wheel bay of the plane, blowing a hole in the fuel tank. The rapid spread of the fire caused hydraulic failure followed by electrical failure. Air Hostess Gloria Berry emerged from the dense smoke carrying life jackets for everyone and even personally ‘fixed’ the life jackets on the flight crew members. In an effort to save the aircraft and it’s occupants, Capt. Jatar decided to ditch the aircraft in the sea. He carried out all precautionary measures for the ditching and issued orders in a cool and unperturbed manner. Though this brave decision resulted unfortunately in the self-sacrifice of the Captain, there were three survivors-the flight engineer, navigator and first officer. The remaining 16 passengers, including seven Chinese nationals and crew members perished.
 
It was a well-planned attempt to assassinate Zhou Enlai, the Chinese Premier. Enlai was heading the Chinese delegation for the Afro-Asian Bandung Conference in Jakarta. But, Enlai was never on the flight. Due to an alleged appendectomy, he was delayed to come to Hong Kong and thus could not reach the flight in time. His travel plans had been kept secret. In fact, he did not leave China until April 14, three days after the bombing.
Historians have said there is evidence to suggest that Zhou knew of the assassination plot and changed his travel plan though he did not stop a decoy delegation from taking his place.
 
The airhostess, Gloria Berry had pleaded with Capt. Jatar to jump and save his own life, but he knew that this was his plane to man till the end and as the duty of a pilot, he did that without hesitation. When the wreckage of the aircraft was recovered during the investigation, Capt. Jatar’s body was found slumped on his seat in the cockpit.

Capt. Jatar was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra by the Government of India for most conspicuous bravery, daring and self-sacrifice. He thus became the first civilian recipient of the Ashok Chakra.
Air Hostess Gloria Berry was awarded the Ashok Chakra Class II (now known as Kirti Chakra) which is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards for exceptional courage and devotion to duty.

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