Service No : 33881 F(P)
Place of birth : Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
Last Rank : Squadron Leader
Unit : 23 Sqn AF
Arm/Regt : Indian Air Force
Martyrdom : May 21, 2021
Sqn Ldr Abhinav Chaudhary hailed from Pusar village in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. Son of Shri Satyendra Chaudhary and Smt Satya Chaudhary, he had a sister Mudrika as his sibling. He had a strong desire to join the armed forces right from his childhood, which grew along with his age. After completing his initial schooling from Meerut, he got selected to join the prestigious Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) Dehradun. It was at this place, that the foundation of his future military career was laid. Subsequently he got selected for the NDA and joined it in the year 2010. He joined the "R" Squadron in NDA and excelled in various activities during his training period. He passed out of NDA as part of 124th course in the year 2013.
Later he was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in the fighter stream from Air Force Academy (AFA) in the year 2014. He underwent multi-phases flying training and got trained as a fighter pilot. After completing his training, he got posted to the Air Force base at Pathankot. He joined the fighter squadron at the base, operating MiG-21 Bison aircraft. After serving for few years, he got married to Ms Sonika Ujjaval on 25 Dec 2019. By 2021, he had put in around 7 years of service and had been promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader. By that time Sqn Ldr Abhinav Chaudhary had evolved into a professionally competent fighter pilot with substantial experience in various air operations.
MiG-21 Aircraft Crash: 21 May 2021
During May 2021, Sqn Ldr Abhinav Chaudhary was serving with 23 Sqn, known as 'Panthers" based at Air Force Station Suratgarh in Rajasthan. 23 Squadron was formed at Pune in the year 1956 with the de Havilland Vampires with Sqn Ldr Kanwar Singh as its first commanding officer. Later it was armed with Gnat aircraft in 1960s and eventually Mig-21 Bison. During peacetime training is one of the most important activities of IAF which helps it to remain prepared to take on any eventuality. A war-like situation is created in the air for the pilots to practice and remain updated. Sqn Ldr Abhinav Chaudhary too was undertaking training sorties to practice complex air operations on a regular basis. On 20 May 2021, Sqn Ldr Abhinav Chaudhary was undertaking another such sortie.
Sqn Ldr Abhinav Chaudhary took off from Air Force Station Suratgarh as planned for the night mission on 20 May 2021. However the aircraft developed some serous technical snag and Sqn Ldr Abhinav Chaudhary had no choice but to eject. The aircraft was seen circling over the fields in Langeana village in Moga district in Punjab before coming down. Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary using his flying skills probably tried to manoevre the aircraft away from residential area of the village to minimize the loss of life and property. But eventually the aircraft crashed near Langeana village at around 0100 Hrs on 21 May 2021. However Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary could not survive the crash and succumbed to his injuries. His body was found 2 km away from the crash spot after an intense search of nearly four hours. His parachute was found open and an SOS was also sent from his device to IAF, but he had lost the battle of life by then. He tried to land safely using the parachute, but apparently broke his neck and spinal cord. Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary was a committed soldier and a gallant air warrior who laid down his life in the service of the nation.
Sqn Ldr Abhinav Chaudhary is survived by his by his father Shri Satyendra Chaudhary, mother Smt Satya Chaudhary, wife Smt Sonika Ujjaval and sister Mudrika.
Debajit Kalita
2021 at 9:51 amI am sincerely grateful for your service and sacrifice. I’m certain it comes with many sacrifices and I thank you and your family each and everyday. Words are not enough to express the gratitude I hold in my heart for our veterans. Words are not Sufficient to express my Gratitude …..Thank you for your service!
Regards
Debajit Kalita
Dibrugarh
Assam
Nikit Shah
2021 at 9:52 amI am sincerely grateful for service and sacrifice. I’m certain it comes with many sacrifices and I thank you and your family each and everyday. Words are not enough to express the gratitude I hold in my heart for our veterans.
Words are not Sufficient to express my Gratitude …..Thank you for your service!
Mahesh kumar sewag
2021 at 9:54 amApna kaleja nikal kar desh pe kurbaaan karte hoo aap ma.. aapke karjdaar h…
Avishek Das Chowdhury
2021 at 9:56 amThis is great pleasure to me to have a chance to pay tribute to for him. His service, helps the entire nation live peacefully. His sacrifice, will take him to lap of mother India. We can feel the sorrow which Abhinav’s family gone through. Now he is protecting us from heaven.
My life always will be in awe to him.
Jai Hind!
Manpal Singh
2021 at 10:00 amFrom my heart I salute you Sqn Ldr Abhinav Chaudhary and all warrior given to the nation…. I also proud to be indian…
Tanuka Basu
2021 at 10:04 amThank you so much for your sacrifices and bravery. We feel proud to all the warriors of the country who really fought for to save our country. Big solute to all of them.
Yashvi panchal
2021 at 10:05 amThank you for everything you did daily to protect this country, and for that I am forever grateful. You have given up so much for this country, and I personally believe that is something that cannot be repaid.. feel proud that you fought for us..
CHANDRASHEKHAR
2021 at 10:07 amThere no word to describe you sacrifice .
” If still we all are alive just bcoz of them ” #Respct #INDIAN ARMY
Akhil ms
2021 at 10:09 amWords are not enough to express the gratitude i hold in my heart. If still we all are alive just becuse of them.
A Big Salute to all warriors who are sacrificed their family, friends and their personal life to our Country.
JAI HIND.
Soumik sar
2021 at 10:10 amYou alway be a hero sir.