Yogesh Yadav, who beat death and paralysis to graduate from Flying Cadet to Flying Officer

After being paralysed from the waist below in an aircraft crash in 2018, the indomitable airman was commissioned as a Flying Officer of the IAF.

Flying Officer Yogesh Yadav with IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari (third from left) and his family | By Special Arrangement

 New Delhi: In 2018, just days before the Passing Out Parade from Air Force Academy (AFA) in Dundigal, Telangana, Flying Cadet Yogesh Yadav’s Kiran trainer aircraft developed a glitch and he had to eject.

While the aircraft crashed, Yadav, who was undergoing training at the AFA after graduating from the National Defence Academy (NDA), parachuted to the ground following his ejection from about 200 metres from the ground. He was found with a fractured leg and other injuries.

His dream of becoming an Air Force pilot also crashed with it, for his injuries turned out to be severe and he was paralysed from the waist below.

“But Yadav was not the person to give up. He was determined to finish his training and join the Indian Air Force (IAF),” a source in the force told ThePrint.

Yadav successfully graduated from the Academy Saturday and joined the IAF as a Flying Officer in the Accounts branch. 

He was congratulated by IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari.

Sources said that in normal circumstances, Yadav would have been boarded out (discharged from service) on medical grounds. But he was determined and appealed to the IAF to allow him to continue with the force.

This, even as he underwent a rehabilitation process for nearly two years.

 

Very Heartening news…
Flt Cdt Yogesh Yadav suffered ejection injury 10 days short of PoP, became paraplegic.
An epitome of grit he's now going back to AFA to resume training.
Grateful to @rajnathsingh ACM Bhadauria Sr Offrs of IAF & MoD for considering his case favorably! pic.twitter.com/ztgyFZS3f0

— Ankur Chaturvedi?? (@ChatyTheCheetah) December 12, 2020

Determination pays off

The IAF saw his determination and decided to allow him to continue. But this needed approval from the Defence Ministry.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved Yadav’s continuation last year, sources said.

The determined cadet was back at the AFA earlier this year and graduated as first in the Order of Merit for the Accounts branch.  

Sources explained that as an officer of the IAF, Yadav would be bound by the rules of the Air Force. But, since he is paraplegic, certain rules will be relaxed for him.  

(Edited by Saikat Niyogi)