{
  "id": 10198315,
  "title": "Who is Priyanka Saxena? After 10 years in IAF, she lost her fighter pilot husband; SC backs her return",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/who-is-priyanka-saxena-after-10-years-in-iaf-she-lost-her-fighter",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T10:45:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/india/who-is-priyanka-saxena-after-10-years-in-iaf-she-lost-her-fighter-pilot-husband-sc-backs-her-return-11790503949694.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Priyanka Saxena, a former Short Service Commission (SSC) officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF), is set to be re-inducted into the service after the Supreme Court ruled in her favor. The court observed that her unique situation as a war widow who had previously served in the IAF should be taken into account. Saxena joined the IAF in 2002 and completed her initial tenure before marrying Wing Commander Harshit Sinha, who died in a MiG-21 Bison crash in December 2021. Despite being eligible for re-induction, the Centre initially rejected her request in April 2022, citing her age and lack of a separate policy for such cases. The Armed Forces Tribunal also dismissed her plea in July 2024, but the Supreme Court intervened, setting aside the tribunal's decision. The court directed Saxena to undergo a one-year refresher training course and meet medical requirements before re-induction as a Squadron Leader. Her earlier service will be included in her total service calculation, and she will continue as a SSC officer with a four-year extension.",
  "summary": "Priyanka Saxena joined the Indian Air Force at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad in January 2002 and received her commission on 20 December 2003.",
  "key_points": [
    "Priyanka Saxena, former IAF officer, seeks re-induction after husband's death",
    "Supreme Court rules in favor of war widow pilot, sets aside tribunal decision",
    "Saxena to undergo refresher training, re-inducted as Squadron Leader"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}