Flight Lieutenant Rajiv Juyal

Flt Lt Rajiv Juyal was born on 19 Feb 1968. He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 08 Feb 1992 at the age of 24 years. He joined the flying stream of the IAF and got trained as a helicoptor pilot as part of 1 HSSC course. By 1997, Flt Lt Rajiv Juyal had put in around 5 years of service and evolved into a professionally competent helicopter pilot having expertise in various air operations.

Siachen Operation : 02 Jul 1997

During 1971, Flt Lt Rajiv Juyal was serving with 114 Helicopter Unit known as “Siachen Pioneers.”  114 HU was formed at Leh on 01 Apr 1964 with an establishment of 10 Allouette helicopters with Squadron Leader Arvind Dalaya as its first commanding officer. Towards the end of year 1964, the Unit HQ was shifted to Jammu from where a detachment operated in Srinagar till 1975 before shifting back to Jammu. Thereafter the Unit moved back to Leh in 1987 and was maintaining a permanent detachment at Thoise for Air Maintenance of Siachen Glacier under Operation Meghdoot. During 1997, 114 HU with Wing Commander Vivek Vikash Bandopadhayay as its commanding officer was undertaking logistic supply and support operations for the army troops deployed in Siachen area. On 02 July 1997, Flt Lt Rajiv Juyal was tasked for one such mission with Flt Lt Vipin Kumar Aggarwal as his co-pilot. 

Flt Lt Rajiv Juyal and Flt Lt VK  Aggarwal took off in their Cheetah (SA-315) helicopter and reached the supply area over Siachen. However the supply area was prone to enemy ground fire and the pilots faced extreme risk in undertaking the missions in that area. On 02 July 1997, Flt Lt Rajiv Juyal had to face one such situation and got hit by enemy ground fire. The damage caused to the aircraft was severe and the pilots did not get time to take any emergency measures. Eventually the aircraft crashed and Flt Lt Rajiv Juyal and Flt Lt VK  Aggarwal could not survive the crash. Flt Lt Rajiv Juyal was a valiant air warrior and professionally competent pilot who laid down his life at the age of 29 years in the line of his duty. 

Flt Lt Rajiv Juyal is survived by his wife  Maj Geetanjali Gairola (Retd), who also served as an officer in the Army.