IAF chief to pay tribute to war hero
Twenty years after Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was killed during the Kargil war, Indian Air Force chief Air Marshal B.S. Dhanoa will pay tribute to the war hero by himself leading a “missing man formation” flight on Monday.
The IAF chief will be flying MiG 21 Type 96 plane from Air Force Station in Bathinda. The missing man formation is an aerial salute performed as part of a flypast of aircraft in the memory of a fallen pilot.
In 1999, Air Marshal Dhanoa was the commanding officer of the 17 Golden Arrows Squadron of MiG 21s inducted into Srinagar for the Kargil Operations and Sqn Ldr Ahuja was the Flight Commander.
On May 27, 1999, Sqn Ldr Ahuja was planned to lead a two0aircraft mission for photo reconnaissance of enemy positions in the Batalik Sector.
As he was getting airborne he was informed that Flt Lt Nachiketa had ejected in the vicinity of Muntho Dhalo.
Sqn Ldr Ahuja realised the necessity of locating and recovering the
■ The Air chief will be flying MiG 21 Type 96 plane from Air Force Station in Bathinda.
■ Dhanoa was the commanding officer of the 17 “Golden Arrows” Squadron of MiG 21 fighter aircraft inducted for the Kargil Operations.
downed pilot and set course towards Muntho Dhalo. Despite being told that surface to air missile were being fired in the area, he carried out orbits to try and pinpoint the location of the crashed aircraft and pilot.
He sent his number two back to base but continued the search. He was able to locate the possible crash site and transmitted this information to the rescue helicopters.
Sqn Ldr Ahuja aircraft was hit by a surface to air Stinger missile and he ejected.
He gave a radio call — “Hercules, something has hit my plane, possibility of missile hit cannot be ruled out, I am ejecting over...(location).” His body was found on May 28.