During the Kargil war in 1999, India's hero Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja of the Indian Air Force gave the supreme sacrifice for the country while defending India's borders from the enemy. It was at the beginning of the war when this fighter pilot took to the skies courageously, crossed the LoC with his MiG-21 to save his fellow pilot, and embraced martyrdom. A passionate flyer and a daredevil warrior, Sqn ldr Ajay remains a true inspiration to many young air warriors owing to his unparalleled act of bravery. He was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra, one of India's highest gallantry awards.

 

 

Born in Kota of Rajasthan, Ajay did his schooling from Saint Paul’s Senior Secondary School and on graduation from the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) he was commissioned as a fighter pilot on June 14, 1985, in the IAF. As a fighter pilot, he toured on the MiG-23 fighter-bomber and MiG-21 variants and gained instructional flying experience of over 1,000 hours while also teaching ab-initio pilots. In 1997, Sqn ldr Ahuja was posted to the Killi Bhisiana Airbase at Bhatinda, Punjab.

 

When the Kargil war broke out in May-June 1999, Ajay had just become the Flight Commander of Squadron No.17 Golden Arrows (a specialist photo-reconnaissance squadron).

 

 

 

 

On May 27, 1999, as part of "Operation Safed Sagar" in Kargil, a photo reconnaissance mission was launched over the Indian side of the LoC in Kashmir valley. A member of the mission (then) Flt Lt Nachiketa ejected from his MiG-27 after an engine flameout. Sqn Ldr Ajay Ahuja stayed over enemy positions to help the rescue attempts as he was aware of the existence of enemy surface-to-air missiles in the area but he had two choices, either to reconnaissance with fellow pilot or to return to the airbase. With utter disregard for his own life, he entered the enemy-occupied area to find the location of his fellow pilot. It was during this time that Pakistani troops, already equipped with anti-aircraft guns started firing on them. Sqn ldr Ajay Ahuja's plane got crashed and caught fire. He, reportedly, gave a radio call – “Hercules, I suspect a missile hit, I am leaving my plane” but unfortunately, the IAF lost track of his aircraft and all communication shortly afterwards.

 

After this, his parachute landed in the enemy-occupied area. He had lost contact with the IAF. Pakistani soldiers had taken Ajay Ahuja hostage.

 

When Pakistan handed over his this martyr's body to India, the enemy claimed that he lost his life due to the collision of the parachute while landing, however, the investigation revealed that he had fractured his leg during the landing but he was alive. Rather, he was shot from close range. It was very much clear that the death of squadron leader Ajay Ahuja was a "cold-blooded murder".

Flight lieutenant Nachiketa returned to India safely after 8 days of Pakistani captivity. On May 29, 1999, Sqn ldr Ajay Ahuja's body was flown in from Srinagar by an IAF plane and was consigned to flames in Delhi. India's hero Sqn ldr Ahuja remains a great hero in the eyes of crores of Indians. He was posthumously awarded the 'Vir Chakra' on August 15, 1999, for such an act of indomitable courage and valour. The country is forever, indebted to his sacrifice.