IAF chief BS Dhanoa, Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar fly `missing man` formation for Kargil heroes

New Delhi: Twenty years after Pakistan had downed an Indian Air Force (IAF) plane and later killed Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Monday flew the 'missing man' formation near Punjab's Bathinda town paying a tribute to the fallen Kargil heroes. 

The formation flying was carried out at the Bhisiana air base on the outskirts of Bathinda in which Western Air Command chief Air Marshal R Nambiar also took part. 

It is rare for two top IAF functionaries to fly together in a formation. Both were the Kargil veterans as well as the missions during the conflict in 1999. 

The 'missing man' flypast is an aerial salute to honour the fallen comrades-in-arms. 

The Indian Air Force chief was then commanding the Golden Arrows Squadron based in Srinagar and Squadron Leader Ahuja was the Flight Commander. 

Ahuja was awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously for his gallantry during the Kargil conflict. 

On May 27, 1999, Squadron Leader Ahuja, who parachuted on the ground, was tortured to death by Pakistani troops. 

After the flight, Dhanoa said that the government's decision to buy two squadrons of Rafale was a game changer.

He said the IAF had enhanced its capability since the Kargil War as well as the precision weapon. 

During the Kargil War, only Mirage 2000s had laser designated pods for precision bombing. He said that the inclusion of heavy-lift helicopter Chinook and attack helicopter Apache will further enhance the IAF's capacity.