IAF pilot Sahil Gandhi cremated with full military honours

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, February 21

The body of the Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Sahil Gandhi was cremated with full military honours in his native Hisar town on Thursday.

Gandhi had died during a rehearsal for the Aero Show when two Hawk aircraft of the aerobatic team Surya Kiran collided midair in Bangaluru on Tuesday.

Earlier, his body was taken to Hisar airport from Delhi via helicopter and brought to his home at PLA Sector in the town today morning.

Gandhi is survived by his wife Himani and five-year-old son Riyan.

His father Madan Mohan Gandhi is a retired bank official, while mother Dr Sudesh Gandhi retired recently as a principal scientist from Ch Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. His elder brother Nitin is an engineer in Sweden.

Sahil joined the NDA after completing his 10+2 from the Campus School at HAU, Hisar, in 2000 and was commissioned in the IAF in 2004.

A large number of people, including local MP Dushyant Chautala, Rajya Sabha MP DP Vats, local MLA Kamal Gupta, IAF officers and district officials, attended his last journey and paid their respects to the departed soul.