Gagan Oberoi

Biography

Flight Lieutenant Gagan Oberoi was born on 25 September 1976 in the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh, the son of Shri D.K. Oberoi, who worked at the Ordnance Factory in Itarsi. After his schooling he was selected for the prestigious National Defence Academy, joining the 162nd Course. Chosen for the Indian Air Force, he was commissioned as a fighter pilot. On completing his flying training, he was posted on 19 December 1998 to No. 5 Squadron, which operated Jaguar aircraft. He soon gained expertise in various air operations and took part in numerous operational exercises, developing into a dedicated and professionally capable air warrior with over five years of service. By 2004 he was serving with a Jaguar fighter squadron based at Ambala Air Force Station. On 2 April 2004, Flight Lieutenant Oberoi and Flight Lieutenant Mayank Mayur were tasked with a valley flying training mission as part of a formation of four aircraft. Their jet lost contact with ground control while flying between the Gund and Sonamarg areas, and later crashed in inhospitable mountainous terrain at an altitude of 4,000 metres, around 60 kilometres from Srinagar. Flight Lieutenant Gagan Oberoi laid down his life in the service of the nation, upholding the highest traditions of the Indian Air Force.