Flying Officer Deepak Dahiya was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 16th December 2000 and got trained as a fighter pilot. In 2002, Flying Officer Deepak was undergoing his advance flying training at MiG Operational Flying Training Unit (MOFTU), the largest fighter unit of IAF undertaking Stage III fighter-flying training.
| Service Number | 26297 F(P) |
| Rank | Flying Officer |
| Unit | MOFTU AF |
| Date of Martyrdom | 20th April 2002 |
On 20th April 2002, Flying Officer Deepak was tasked with a training sortie with Squadron Leader Tarique Jamil Ahmad Khan as the instructor. As per the plan, Squadron Leader Khan and Flying Officer Deepak took off from the base located in the Sonitpur district of Assam. The first leg of the mission went off as strategised but on its return leg, the MiG-21 aircraft lost contact with ground control and went missing. The area from where aircraft lost control was thick and dense with forest cover. An extensive search operation was launched by security personnel but could not locate the debris of the aircraft. And unfortunately, two pilots were lost.
The young and competent pilot is survived by his parents.
