Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav, 28, who tragically lost his life in a Jaguar aircraft crash near Jamnagar, Gujarat, was cremated with full military honours at his hometown, Majra Bhalkhi village in Haryana’s Rewari district.
A large number of villagers gathered to pay their respects to the fallen pilot, chanting patriotic slogans as his father, Sushil Yadav, performed the last rites. Several dignitaries, including Bawal MLA Krishan Kumar and former minister Banwari Lal, were present to offer their condolences.
Siddharth was on a night training mission when his aircraft crashed around 9:30 PM on Wednesday, shortly after taking off from Jamnagar. The fighter jet went down in an open field near Suvarda village, approximately 12 km from Jamnagar city, and was engulfed in flames. In a heroic act, Siddharth ensured the safety of his co-pilot, who is currently receiving treatment in a Delhi hospital.
His father, Sushil Yadav, a retired Indian Air Force officer, expressed pride in his son’s bravery. “I am both heartbroken and proud. Siddharth upheld the values of our family, which has a long tradition of serving the nation. My grandfather served with the Bengal Engineers under British rule, and my father was in the paramilitary forces,” he said.
Neelam Yadav, the pilot’s mother, recalled how difficult it was to send her son into the Air Force, but she respected his determination. “He was resolute about joining the forces since childhood. He embodied courage and simplicity. My son sacrificed his life to save his co-pilot,” she said.
Apart from his grieving parents, Siddharth is survived by a younger sister.
Adding to the family’s sorrow, the young officer had been engaged to Sonia Yadav, a resident of Delhi, just two weeks before the accident. Their wedding was planned for November. Sonia, who attended the funeral, spoke about their close bond. “We had a special connection. He had taken leave for our engagement on March 23 and returned to duty on March 31. I will always be proud of him,” she said.
Siddharth had completed his training as a fighter pilot two years ago and had joined the Indian Air Force after graduating from the National Defence Academy in 2016.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has initiated a court of inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.
