Wing Commander Dheeraj Bhatia hailed from New Delhi. He had joined the flying stream of the Indian Air Force in 1995. Later, he was selected to join the prestigious Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) squadron based in Air Force Station Bidar in Andhra Pradesh.
| Service Number | 22124 |
| Place of Birth | New Delhi |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Unit | SKAT |
| Date of Martyrdom | 18th March 2006 |
During 2005-2006, Wing Commander Dheeraj Bhatia was serving with 52 Squadron based at Air Force station Bidar. The Kiran MK 2 aircraft of the SKAT, flew at speeds between 200 and 600 kmph during maneuvers. The aerobatic team always consisted of very experienced pilots. On 18th March 2006 Wing Commander Dheeraj took off on Kiran MK II fighter trainer jet from Hyderabad along with his colleague Squadron Leader Shailendra Singh. During, the training exercise the two aircrafts flying in very close formation collided with each other. The aircrafts crashed near Naubad, around three kilometers from Bidar. In this accident, both the competent pilots Wing Commander Dheeraj and Squadron Leader Shailendra Singh lost their lives.
Wing Commander Dheeraj is survived by his wife and two daughters.
