Service No : 30395 F(P)

Date of Birth : February 1, 1988

Place of birth : Dehradun, U'khand

Last Rank : Squadron Leader

Arm/Regt : Indian Air Force

Martyrdom : February 1, 2019

Sqn Ldr Siddhartha Negi

Sqn Ldr Siddhartha Negi hailed from Dehradun in Uttarakhand. Son of Shri Balbir Singh Negi and Smt Suchitra Negi, Sqn Ldr Siddhartha Negi studied from Kendriya Vidyalaya Dehradun and later got selected to join the prestigious NDA in 2005. He passed out of the NDA as part of the 114 th Course and joined the Air Force Academy near Hyderabad for his flying training as part of the 183 Pilots’ Course. He was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF on 27 June 2009. Sqn Ldr Siddhartha Negi was a trained fighter pilot of the IAF having more than 2000 hours of flying on various types of aircraft. He underwent the Flight Test Course at AFTPS, part of ASTE and became one of the youngest Experimental Test Pilots(ETP) in 2018. Before being posted to the Bangalore-based elite Air Force unit, Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), he had served in two front-line Air Force bases operating Jaguar fighter aircraft.

 

After gaining expertise in flying various types of fighter aircraft, Sqn Ldr Siddhartha Negi 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 Siddhartha Negi 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 Siddhartha Negi was an avid sportsman and excelled in Squash. He was part of the Command HQs Squash team and won many accolades in various tournaments. He also played cricket, football, and basketball besides being a passionate traveler. Sqn Ldr Siddhartha Negi got married to Sqn Ldr Dhruvika Raj, in December 2015, who is currently serving in the IAF.

 

Mirage 2000 Jet Crash: 01 Feb 2019

 

During 2018-19, Sqn Ldr Siddhartha Negi 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 01st of February 2019, Sqn Ldr Siddhartha Negi and Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol 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 Siddhartha Negi and Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol both 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 Siddhartha Negi and Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol 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 Siddhartha Negi later succumbed to their injuries and the IAF lost two valiant and committed air warriors in a tragic manner. Sqn Ldr Siddhartha Negi was a valiant air warrior and ace fighter pilot, who at the young age of 31 years laid down his life in the service of the nation, on the day which ironically happened to be his birthday.

 

Sqn Ldr Siddhartha Negi is survived by his father, Shri Balbir Singh Negi mother, Smt Suchitra Negi, wife Sqn Ldr Dhruvika Raj, and sister Richa Negi.

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16 Comments
  • Vamsee Kamatham

    2023 at 12:35 pm Reply

    What a cherished honor it would have been to shake your hand my Brother.
    Rest in Peace Young Warrior now in the Company of Your Mighty Brethren.
    – as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil: for thou art with me –

  • Saurabh Bakshi

    2023 at 12:36 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.

  • Psa

    2023 at 12:36 pm Reply

    Such a big loss of our nation which has no compensation at all feeling sad. How long we will use aged machines and equipments that will cost the lifes of our brilliant guardians

  • Ravikumar Chawda

    2023 at 12:37 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.

  • Suresh Kumar Nautiyal

    2023 at 12:38 pm Reply

    Indeed a gallant officer who laid down his life for country while performing the duties of the test pilot. May his soul rest in peace.

  • WhyGodWhy

    2023 at 12:28 pm Reply

    How is this justified and who’s taking the responsibility of faulty plane? It seems the precious life could have been saved if security measures and audits were measured. This is terrible loss to the nation training program

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