Squadron Leader Shishir Tewari was an Indian Air Force helicopter pilot who was commissioned into the service on 19 June 2010. He completed the 185th Pilots’ Course and served as a helicopter pilot, gaining experience in air operations and transport duties. At the time of his death, he was associated with 157 Helicopter Unit and was operating the Mi-17 V5 helicopter.
On 6 October 2017, Squadron Leader Tewari was serving as co-pilot on an air-maintenance sortie in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh. The helicopter was tasked with carrying essential supplies to forward Army posts near Topokhar, in the Yangtse area. Such missions supported troops deployed in remote areas where road access was limited and aerial supply was essential.
During the sortie, the Mi-17 V5 helicopter crashed while supplies were being offloaded. Squadron Leader Tewari and the other six military personnel on board lost their lives. His death occurred while carrying out an operational air-maintenance task in support of forward troops.
Squadron Leader Shishir Tewari is remembered for his service as an Indian Air Force helicopter pilot and for making the ultimate sacrifice while undertaking a mission in a challenging operational environment.