May 08, 2025
IAF Recalls Astronaut Ajit Krishnan Amid Tensions
Group Captain Ajit Krishnan has been urgently recalled by the Indian Air Force due to rising tensions with Pakistan post-Operation Sindoor
Krishnan received his orders while attending the Global Space Exploration Conference in Delhi
“I have been called back by the IAF… because of the current situation,” he confirmed in a brief statement to the press
The recall follows India’s precision airstrikes in Pakistan and PoK in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack
Krishnan’s redeployment highlights the dual national priorities of military preparedness and space exploration
India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, targeting launch in 2027, continues in full swing with international collaboration
Despite the redeployment, astronaut training for the mission remains on schedule, guided by ISRO and Russian agencies
Besides Krishnan, Angad Pratap is training in India, while Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth B Nair are training in the US
Commissioned in 2003, Krishnan is a decorated pilot with 2,900+ flight hours on Su-30 MKI and MiG-29 jets
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