Wing Commander Mandeep Singh Dhillon: Pilot Who Gave His Life Saving Civilians in Arunachal Pradesh Wing Commander Mandeep Singh Dhillon, Service No. 25307 F(P), of the Indian Air Force exemplified the highest traditions of military service and humanitarian commitment. On 4 July 2017, while leading rescue operations amid severe flooding and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh, he made the supreme sacrifice. As Commanding Officer of No. 115 Helicopter Unit (“Hovering Angels”) based at Air Force Station Tezpur, Assam, he prioritised the safety of stranded civilians over his own, ultimately losing his life in the line of duty alongside two fellow air warriors. Born in Patiala, Punjab, Dhillon came from a family with a distinguished military tradition. His father, Squadron Leader Puran Singh Dhillon (Retd.), had served as a flight engineer on Mi-4 helicopters in the 1970s before transitioning to a role as a national athletics coach. This heritage instilled in him a deep sense of discipline, service, and physical excellence from an early age. He received his early education at the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) in Dehradun, where he excelled academically and athletically, earning recognition as a gold medallist in cross-country races. Following RIMC, he joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla as an Air Force cadet in Foxtrot Squadron. He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 19 December 1998 after completing the 162 Course, opting for the helicopter stream in the flying branch. Dhillon accumulated nearly 4,000 total flying hours during his approximately 18 years of service, including more than 1,200 captain hours on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH/Dhruv).#indian_air_force #arunachal_pradesh #wing_commander_mandeep_singh_dhillon #air_force_station_tezpur #rashtriya_indian_military_college
