Sandeep Jain, SC

Biography

Flight Lieutenant Sandeep Jain was born on 20 March 1968 and joined the Indian Air Force on 11 June 1988, commissioned into the flying stream. Trained as a helicopter pilot under the 141st Pilots' Course, he served with various flying squadrons across several air bases and developed into a professionally competent pilot over nearly six years of service. On 19 December 1994 he joined 130 Helicopter Unit, known as "The Condors," based at Jammu, whose primary role was providing air support for Operation Meghdoot. In August 1996 he was deployed on detachment to a forward area to carry out air maintenance sorties for army posts southwest of the Siachen Glacier. With the enemy having redeployed forces and established new bunkers threatening Indian posts, helicopter routes were under constant surveillance and fire. On 26 August 1996, tasked as captain of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Jain and his co-pilot Pilot Officer Vaibhav Bhagwat undertook air-drop missions through enemy-dominated territory. Having completed two such missions despite hostile interference, their helicopter was struck by direct enemy ground fire during the third sortie and crashed in the snow-clad mountains. For his exemplary courage and supreme sacrifice, Flight Lieutenant Sandeep Jain was awarded the Shaurya Chakra.