Garima Abrol, wife of late Squadron leader Samir Abrol, who lost his life in an air accident, is now an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer. She has successfully completed the professional training at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal.
“Ms Garima Abrol, now Flying Officer Garima Abrol, wife of late Squadron leader Samir Abrol, who lost his life in an Air Accident, passed out from Air Force Academy yesterday.
The real role models of our Nation,” the Shillong Defence PRO tweeted on Garima becoming an Air Officer.
Ms Garima Abrol, now Flying Officer Garima Abrol, wife of late Squadron leader Samir Abrol, who lost his life an Air Accident, passed out from Air Force Academy yesterday.
The real role models of our Nation. @SpokespersonMoD @MinistryWCD @DefenceMinIndia @IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/ZP34tWBG1q— PRO Shillong, Ministry of Defence (@proshillong) December 20, 2020
Now a Flying Officer, the ‘President’s Commission’ was conferred on Garima and the graduating Flight Cadets who successfully completed their professional training by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at a Combined Graduation Parade on Saturday, December 19, 2020. She was among 21 graduating officers.
In July 2019, about five months after her husband’s death, Garima cracked the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview and joined the Air Force Academy in Dundigal. Her course at the IAF Academy started in January 2020.
Squadron Leader Samir Abrol was killed along with Squadron Leader Siddhartha Negi after their Mirage fighter aircraft crashed during takeoff at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport in Bengaluru.
The incident happened near Yemlur old Airport Road, when the Mirage 2000 trainer fighter aircraft of HAL, flown by them, crashed.
Both pilots were taking the plane for an acceptance test flight after it had been upgraded by the HAL there. It was being flight-tested by the pilots before it could be given the consent to be put for operational use.
A few days after the incident, Garima took to Instagram, and penned down a heartfelt note for her husband. A few excerpts from the post read: "Unforgiving is a job of a test pilot, Someone has to risk it to show others the light. Proud of my husband".
Meanwhile Negi’s wife Squadron Leader Dhruvika Raj is an IAF Officer. She was posted in Bengaluru when the accident occurred, according to reports.
(Edited by Kanishk Singh)
