In a tribute to Kargil War hero Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa led a ‘missing man’ formation with MiG 21 fighter jets over the skies of Bhatinda.
The ‘missing man’ flypast is an aerial salute to honour fallen comrades-in-arms in an air force.
Sq Ldr Ahuja was killed 20 years ago on this day during Operation Safed Sagar undertaken to evict Pakistani infiltrators from the icy tops of Kargil.
During the engagement, Pakistan downed two IAF fighter jets including the MiG 21 of Sq Ldr Ahuja. The IAF officer ejected from his fighter and parachuted on ground over the Batalik sector along the Line of Control. Pakistani soldiers captured and tortured him to death.
The other pilot was Flight Lieutenant K Nachiketa, who was taken Prisoner of War (PoW) after his Mig-27 was shot down.
Sq Ldr Ahuja was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.
At the time of the incident, ACM Dhanoa was commanding the Srinagar-based Golden Arrows Squadron and was the Commanding Officer of Sq Ldr Ahuja, who was the Flight Commander.
Along with Air Marshal R Nambiar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) Western Air Command, the ACM led the formation in which four aircraft fly with a gap after three aircraft indicating the ‘missing man’.
Both ACM Dhanoa and AM Nambiar are Kargil war veterans.
The formation flew from Bhisiana air base on the outskirts of Bathinda, which was where the 17 Squadron was located before it was moved to Srinagar.
The IAF chief will on 28 May fly in a helicopter formation from Sarsawa near Saharanpur to honour the IAF personnel who laid down their lives after their chopper was shot down by Pakistani Stinger missiles.