The indian pilot who shot the unarmed airline sized plane died in an accident in his plane.. thts called karma..
It was a military aircraft with MIL transponder code flying UNAUTHORIZED in Indian airspace.
The standard protocol if you don't know is as follows:
1- IAF ATC asks the aircraft to identify itself and states its intentions.
2- On response, it asks the aircraft to leave the airspace (if very close to the border) and later take it up with the intruding country's standing military committee. But if the aircraft has entered significantly into the airspace, it is asked to follow the bearings to the nearest military base for unauthorized intrusion.
3- If 1 and 2 are not responded, then the controller sends in interceptors.
4- the interceptors try to establish radio contact with the intruding aircraft and press it to turn towards the air base within the country's boundaries.
5- If no response is done in 4, then the aircraft is warned twice to change course.
6- if no response in 5 or non compliance of it, the aircraft is shot down.
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Is this so difficult to understand?
Your aircraft even if unarmed, was a MIL code aircraft. MIL code aircraft from hostile nations are NOT authorized, especially just 2 years after a war with that country.
If the Atlantique was not there for snooping, then why didn't it comply with the IAF ATC?
Why did it speed up and try to exit?
That, is a breach of protocol and hence firing was necessary.
Sad and unfortunate incident but because of that commander's foolishness in the cockpit, 16 people died.