Service No : 29875 F(P)

Date of Birth : July 17, 1986

Place of birth : Ghaziabad,, (UP)

Last Rank : Squadron Leader

Arm/Regt : Indian Air Force

Martyrdom : February 1, 2019

Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol

Squadron Leader Samir Abrol, born on 17 July 1986 hailed from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. Son of Shri Sanjeev Abrol and Smt Sushma Abrol, Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol came from a business family, but he had a dream to join the armed forces right from his childhood. After completing his schooling from Ryan International School Ghaziabad, he pursued his dream and joined the prestigious NDA. He got selected for the IAF in the flying branch and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in the fighter stream on 21 June 2008. Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol was a trained fighter pilot of the IAF having more than 3500 hours of flying to his credit. He had the experience of flying several aircraft such as Sukhoi-30, Tejas, Hawks, and Jaguars, but the Mirage 2000 was special to him. Before being posted to the Bangalore-based elite Air Force unit, Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), he had served in various front-line Air Force bases operating different types of fighter aircraft.

 

After gaining expertise in flying various types of fighter aircraft Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol got selected as a test pilot and was posted to the IAF’s premier Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE). The ASTE  is one of the few institutions in the world which evaluates aircraft and systems for induction into user organization(IAF) and has on its strength the pilots, who have the best flying skills and are capable of flying high-risk certification missions. Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol was one such pilot serving with the ASTE and was engaged in carrying out various acceptance trial sorties for aircraft produced/upgraded by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL).

 

Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol was a voracious reader and an avid biker too. A member of the Indian Bull Riders Motorcycle Club of Bangalore, Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol, was a fitness enthusiast and loved cycling and physical exercises. Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol got married to Ms. Garima, a physiotherapist and a fitness instructor from Punjab in May 2015.

 

Mirage 2000 Aircraft Crash: 01 Feb 2019 

 

During 2018-19, Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol was serving with ASTE as a test pilot and was conducting certification missions on a regular basis. The missions were essentially undertaken to check the functioning of the systems/sub-systems for their conformity to the standards accepted by the IAF. On the 01st of February 2019, Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol and Sqn Ldr Siddarth Negi were tasked for one such acceptance trial sortie on an upgraded Mirage 2000 trainer aircraft. This aircraft had already been flown six times by the test pilots at HAL and it was the second customer(IAF) sortie. Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol and Sqn Ldr Siddarth Negi were experienced pilots and knew their tasks well. After the necessary flying briefing, both pilots took off as planned.

 

However, during the takeoff roll, there was an uncontrollable technical snag and the aircraft hit the arrest barrier at the end of the runway and dragged it. Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol and Sqn Ldr Siddarth Negi were forced to eject but it was too late. The parachutes got deployed but both the pilots sustained serious injuries as they fell near to the burning wreckage of the aircraft. Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol and Sqn Ldr Siddarth Negi later succumbed to their injuries and the IAF lost two valiant and committed air warriors in a tragic manner. Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol was a dedicated soldier and a professional competent air warrior who laid down his life in the service of the nation.

 

Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol is survived by his father Shri Sanjeev Abrol, mother Smt Sushma Abrol, wife Smt Garima Abrol and brother Shri Sushant Abrol. Later carrying forward the legacy of her husband, Garima Abrol joined the Indian Air Force and was commissioned as a Flying Officer in Dec 2020.

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24 Comments
  • Rahul.S

    2022 at 7:30 pm Reply

    No words to describe. Jai hind !!

  • Ravikumar Chawda

    2022 at 7:31 pm Reply

    It’s a huge loss to the nation and the family. May the brave soul rest in peace and my deepest sympathy with them all.

  • Kirthan

    2022 at 7:31 pm Reply

    Thank you to our brave pilots for laying down their lives in the process of saving civilian lives in Bengaluru.

  • Kakshik Gaurkar

    2022 at 7:32 pm Reply

    Amar jawan

  • Rajiv

    2022 at 7:32 pm Reply

    Very sad incident. We lost a very brave and competent pilot.Instead of brushing this under the carpet which happens routinely in govt organisation , HAL must be investigated for this lapse and people responsible foe this mishap should be brought to book and punished severely by stopping their pensions and dismissals dishonorably from service.

  • COL B. K. BASU (RETD)

    2022 at 7:33 pm Reply

    My respectful salute to all those who made the Supreme Sacrifice for the nation. I also salute the parents, wives and other family members of the mortears.

  • Veteran MWO Joy Xavirr

    2022 at 7:33 pm Reply

    Terrible lose to our nation

  • Vivek Dubey

    2022 at 7:34 pm Reply

    Go in peace sky boy you have gone too early. I have seen you grow from your NDA days and always felt that you are the best. Rest in peace and may God give strength to your family members to bear this loss. Nation has lost a true diamond.

  • Let Col SMS Grover

    2022 at 7:35 pm Reply

    Salute to the martyr Samir .

  • Mukesh Chadha

    2022 at 7:35 pm Reply

    God bless the departed soul. Sorry to note we are still using old aircraft for our security.New aircrafts must come earliest as Trained brave officers are most important for the country.

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