Major Padmanabhan KE SM

Major Padmanabhan K.E. hailed from Thalassery in Kerala, though he was born on 01 September 1973 in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. He was the son of Shri E.N. Rammohan, a distinguished police officer who later retired as the Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), and Smt. K.M. Prema. He grew up in a disciplined, service-oriented environment and was deeply inspired by the values of duty, courage, and a nation-first ethos instilled at home. He had one sibling, his sister, K.E. Priyamvada. From a young age, Maj Padmanabhan showed a strong inclination toward joining the Armed Forces. His childhood passion remained steady through his formative years, eventually shaping his academic and career goals. His resolve bore fruit when he was selected to join the Indian Army after completing his education — a moment of pride for his family and community.

He was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery, a pivotal combat support arm of the Indian Army known for its precision, firepower, and battlefield effectiveness. After serving with dedication in his parent regiment, he sought new challenges and qualified for the elite Army Aviation Corps. He underwent rigorous training, completing his Basic Army Aviation Course in Jhansi, followed by the Advanced Army Aviation Course in Nashik. By 2008, he had become a highly skilled and dependable helicopter pilot, known for his professionalism, calm demeanour, and unwavering commitment to duty. His career progression was a reflection of his competence and leadership qualities, and by then, he had also risen to the rank of Major.

Cheetah Air Operation (Ladakh): 15 Aug 2008

During August 2008, Major Padmanabhan KE was serving with 7 R&O (Recce and Observation) Flight belonging to 666 Army Aviation Sqn. The 7 R&O Flt was operating Cheetah helicopters, a single-engine helicopter of 1970s vintage and derived from the French Alouette. The Cheetah Helicopter was known to be a high-performance helicopter designed for operation over a very wide range of weight, the centre of gravity and altitude conditions. The five-seater Cheetah helicopter was versatile, multi-role, multi-purpose, highly manoeuvrable, and rugged in construction. It was suitable for commuting, observation, surveillance, logistics support, rescue operations and high-altitude missions. On 15 Aug 2008, Major Padmanabhan KE was tasked with one such air mission along with Major Sunil Ganapathy of 3 R&O Flt as his co-pilot.

On 15 Aug, the crew took off in their Cheetah Helicopter (Z-1894) to carry out the assigned task as per the operational plan. It was an operational reconnaissance mission, which was later diverted for a casualty evacuation at Sarchu in eastern Ladakh. An army soldier, Gunner Narsaiah, had been trapped in an avalanche in eastern Ladakh and had to be evacuated. After successfully lifting the injured soldier, the helicopter took off for the base in the afternoon. However, as Major Padmanabhan and Major Sunil Ganapathy were passing over Tanglang La pass, they encountered very dense and low base clouds and faced an emergency. The Ladakh area was considered to have some of the most difficult terrains in the country, posing unexpected challenges to the pilots. The mountains and the rapidly changing weather conditions caused a huge number of air mishaps and casualties. The Cheetah Helicopter presumably developed a serious snag that the pilots could not rectify in time. Major Padmanabhan and Major Sunil Ganapathy were experienced pilots with substantial flying experience, but they apparently did not get adequate time to bring the aircraft under control. Consequently, at around 1630 hrs, the aircraft crashed near Tanglang La pass. As a result, both pilots got critically injured and soon succumbed to their injuries. Major Padmanabhan KE was a gallant soldier and a competent pilot, who at the age of 34 years laid down his life in the service of the nation. He was awarded the “Sena Medal” for his commendable dedication to duty, courage and supreme sacrifice on 26th January 2009. 

Major Padmanabhan K.E. is survived by his wife, Smt Deepti Padmanabhan, and their son, Master Dhritiman Padmanabhan. He is also remembered by his mother, Smt. K.M. Prema and his sister, Smt K.E. Priyamvada, who is a well-known author of several books for children and young readers. His father, Shri E.N. Rammohan, former Director General of the Border Security Force, passed away in 2018.