Sanjay Kumar Pandey

Biography

Flight Lieutenant Sanjay Kumar Pandey was born on 18 October 1968. After completing his graduation, he was selected to join the Indian Air Force as an officer and was commissioned on 20 February 1993 at the age of 24. He joined the flying stream of the IAF and trained as a helicopter pilot as part of the 3 HSSC course. By 1999, having put in around six years of service, he had evolved into a professionally competent helicopter pilot with expertise across a range of air operations. During 1999, Flt Lt Pandey was serving with 117 Helicopter Unit, known as the "Himalayan Dragons", whose motto Apatsu Mitram means 'A friend in time of need'. Based at the Air Force base at Sarsawa in Uttar Pradesh and commanded by Wing Commander Rajiv Gupta, the unit operated the Cheetah helicopter, a high-performance machine capable of operating across a wide range of weight, centre of gravity and altitude conditions. It was employed as a versatile, multi-role platform undertaking demanding operational tasks on a regular basis. On 2 August 1999, Flt Lt Pandey, along with his captain Squadron Leader F. S. Siddiqui, was tasked with a rescue mission to save two German nationals stranded in the hills of Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. The two officers took off in their Cheetah SA-315 helicopter and searched for two days without success. On the third day, 4 August, the Germans were spotted near Kurgiakh in the Zanskar valley of Ladakh. While attempting the rescue landing, their helicopter caught fire mid-air owing to a technical snag, leaving the crew no time to take emergency measures, and the aircraft crashed. Both pilots lost their lives. A valiant and committed air warrior, Flt Lt Sanjay Kumar Pandey laid down his life at the age of 31 in the service of the nation.