Captain Deepak Sathe laid to rest with full state honours in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Wing commander (retd) Deepak Sathe, pilot-in-command of the Air India Express plane that crashed in Kerala last week, was cremated in Mumbai with state honours on Tuesday. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said in a tweet the government had decided to accord a state funeral. "His life will keep on inspiring young pilots to achieve the Sword of Honour and command over skies," said the tweet.
The Shiv Sena called him a 'Yoddha' (warrior).Mayor Kishori Pednekar, who paid floral tributes at his residence in Chandivli before the funeral procession began, said Captain Sathe had set an example of selflessness for future generations and was a true 'Yoddha'. State cabinet minister from Shiv Sena, Anil Parab, said the brave pilot who risked his life to save scores of passengers should be accorded the status of 'Yoddha'.
Earlier in the morning, Captain Sathe's mortal remains were brought from the Bhabha hospital morgue by the Air India Express team. A short ritual was conducted at home. Captain Sathe's wife Sushma, her father and sister who had come from Pune as well as his sons, Shantanu and Dhananjay, and his sister Anjali and her husband Manoj Parashar were among the family members present.
Wreaths were placed on behalf of all three services. Several of Captain Sathe's batchmates from the NDA also came to pay homage. The motorcade carrying his mortal remains took two rounds of the complex as residents, neighbours and friends, paid respect from their balconies.
Several mourners lined up the road and slogans of "amar rahe" were raised as the funeral procession started from his residence for the crematorium in Vikhroli. Among those present at the funeral were close family members and officers from IAF and the police. The policemen gave a gun salute and state honours, while Air Force officers placed a wreath on the coffin and the IAF insignia on behalf of the services.
Pednekar said, "Without caring for self, the captain was more concerned about saving the lives of several passengers on that plane. He took efforts till the last minute, risking his own life and dying, but ensuring many were saved."
Local Shiv Sena MLA Dilip Lande and Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi attended the funeral. "People like him are the real heroes and he will always be an idol for the next generation. He really deserves the state funeral," said Lande.