Pilot Officer Vaibhav Prahlhad Bhagwat was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 17 June 1995 in the flying stream and trained as a helicopter pilot as part of the 155th Pilots' Course. His first assignment after flying training was with 130 Helicopter Unit. In August 1996, he was deployed on air-maintenance operations in the Operation Meghdoot area. On 26 August 1996, he served as co-pilot on a special Mi-17 sortie to Hoshiyar Post on the Southern Glacier. After essential supplies were delivered, the helicopter was hit by enemy ground fire and crashed. Pilot Officer Bhagwat, Flight Lieutenant Sandeep Jain, Sergeant R Murigappa and Sergeant Krishna Chandra Jha were killed. Pilot Officer Bhagwat was subsequently awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously.