Shikhar Kulshreshtha

Biography

Flight Lieutenant Shikhar Kulshreshtha was born in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, to Shri Desh Deepak Kulshrestha and Smt. Madhu Kulshrestha. After completing his schooling, he set his sights on a career in the skies and joined the Indian Air Force through the National Defence Academy. From an early stage he had wanted to become a fighter pilot, an ambition that was realised when he was selected for training as a combat pilot. Following his rigorous training, Flt Lt Kulshreshtha was posted to a combat fighter squadron at a forward airbase in Rajasthan. Fighter pilots at such stations carry out combat manoeuvres on a daily basis to maintain the operational readiness demanded of them. On 15 July 2013, he was tasked with practising a combat manoeuvre as part of his flying duties when his MiG-21 Bison aircraft suffered a flame-out and went out of control. Drawing on his training and presence of mind, Flt Lt Kulshreshtha ejected from the stricken aircraft. However, the aircraft was too close to the ground to allow a safe descent, and he could not survive the ejection. Flight Lieutenant Shikhar Kulshreshtha laid down his life in the service of the nation, remembered as a dedicated young pilot who gave everything in the pursuit of his duty.