Ninad Mandavgane, VM

Biography

Squadron Leader Ninad Mandavgane hailed from Nashik, Maharashtra, son of Anil and Sushma Mandavgane. He completed his schooling at Bhonsala Military School, Nashik and his 11th and 12th at Aurangabad Military Institute before being selected for the National Defence Academy at Pune. Commissioned into the Indian Air Force on December 24, 2009, he trained as a helicopter pilot and served at Air Force bases in Guwahati, Assam and Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh before being posted to Srinagar. On February 27, 2019, Squadron Leader Mandavgane was the co-pilot of Mi-17 V-5 helicopter ZP-5220, captained by Squadron Leader Siddharth Vashisht, on an air support mission. Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff at 1000 hours, the helicopter was struck by the IAF's own SPYDER air defence system in the operationally charged environment following the Balakot airstrike. The aircraft crashed near Garend Kalaan village in Budgam district, killing all six crew members. Squadron Leader Mandavgane was 33 years old. For his courage, devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Vayu Sena Medal.