If you don't know what you're talking about refrain from commenting. The IAF has actually got a very sound safety record comparable to most professional AFs in the world. A couple of years back it recorded its safest ever year and if you took out the MiGs the flight safety record of the IAF would be stellar.
The IAF has one of the worst safety records of all the operating AFs worldwide. (Source: IDSA)
Even if one is to exclude the Migs, or specifically the infamous flying coffin Mig21, I don't see any 'stellar' adjective associated with the IAF when it comes to safety records.
You're perhaps referring to the year 2012-13 which was recorded as the safest ever year, but you forgot to add, 'per flight hours'. (
Defence minister praises IAF as aircraft crashes fall to record low | Mail Online
But here's the amusing part, read it in an article published in the year 2012, our 'honest' MoD commended the IAF for safety records, when we lost 33 fighters/helos in a period of 3 years. (
Crashes continue to plague Indian air force - 3/20/2012 - Flight Global
Hell, even last year:
List of previous IAF accidents | Business Standard
Its not rocket science to acknowledge something's wrong, either the substandard HAL overhaul or the pilot training layer gaps, existing due to a complete lack of Intermediate stage training aircrafts. (Or is it basic, don't really remember)
Before someone jumps and says the HAL has absolutely nothing to do with C130, my opinion is not based on this specific incident, which may well be a technical failure or a one freak accident. Tragic that we lost our boys, RIP.
PS. It'd be appreciated if our neighbours too extend their goodwill, instead of scoring PAF points over IAF. As Abingdonboy pointed out, the incident occured during peace time, not war.