Farhat Samiullah Siddiqui

Biography

Squadron Leader Farhat Samiullah Siddiqui was born on 01 April 1966 in Mumbai, into a family that originally hailed from Lucknow. He studied at St John School in Goregaon and later at Mithibhai College in Mumbai. A keen sportsman, he excelled particularly at boxing, reigning as Western India boxing champion for three years and even featuring in an exhibition match with the legendary Muhammad Ali in Mumbai when he was just twelve years old. After his schooling he was selected for the prestigious National Defence Academy, joining the 71st NDA Course (Bravo Squadron) in 1983 and passing out on 01 December 1986. He then trained at the Air Force Academy and was commissioned into the flying stream of the Indian Air Force on 19 December 1987, qualifying as a helicopter pilot with the 140th Pilots' Course. Over the following years he served with various helicopter squadrons based at Jodhpur and Tezpur, and also had the distinction of a three-year deputation with the Indian Navy. By 1999, having completed about twelve years of service, he had matured into a professionally competent helicopter pilot skilled in a wide range of air operations. Having recently returned from Operation Vijay in Jammu & Kashmir during the Kargil War, he was then serving with 117 Helicopter Unit, the "Himalayan Dragons", based at Sarsawa and operating the versatile Cheetah helicopter. On 02 August 1999, Sqn Ldr Siddiqui and his co-pilot Flt SK Pandey took off in a Cheetah SA-315 to rescue two German nationals stranded in the hills of Lahaul-Spiti. After two days of searching, the Germans were spotted near Kurgiakh in the Zanskar valley on 04 August. While attempting the rescue landing, the helicopter caught fire mid-air due to a technical snag and crashed. Both pilots were killed. Sqn Ldr FS Siddiqui laid down his life at the age of 33 in the service of the nation.