Varun Singh hailed from a family of armymen in Deoria district in Uttar Pradesh. His father, K.P Singh retired as a Colonel from the Indian Army. His brother, Lieutenant Commander Tanuj Singh served in the Indian Navy. He studied at the Army Public School, Chandigarh. His mother, Mrs Uma Singh was a teacher in the primary section of the school. Inspired by his father, Varun was passionate about aeronautics at school. He was quick to identify that he was doing something he liked helped him to excel.
Vice-Principal Vijay Laxmi, who taught Varun Singh English in classes XI and XII, remembers him as well-mannered and cheerful. His disciplined behaviour made him a prefect in the school. He cleared the entrance test to the National Defence Academy (NDA) in his first attempt. He showed less interest in extra-curricular activities and till then, lacked confidence. He felt so as he believed he was meant to be average and there was little point trying to excel.
He graduated from the NDA in 2003. He was commissioned as a fighter pilot in 2004 and mainly flew Jaguars and Tejas. He was also an experimental test pilot. His career flourished once he became Flight Lieutenant and a flying instructor. He completed an eleven-month course after that of Experimental Test Pilot.
In 2020, he was posted with a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) squadron. On 12 October 2020, he was flying a sortie in the LCA when an emergency developed due to the failure of cockpit pressurisation at high altitude. He skilfully landed the fighter aircraft going beyond the call of duty and taking calculated risks. This allowed an accurate analysis of the fault on the indigenously designed fighter and further institution of preventive measures against recurrence. He was conferred Shaurya Chakra, India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award, for exceptional gallantry as a Wing Commander.
In a letter, penned by him after he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra, he shared his thoughts on his own life to help and inspire young Indians, especially those who feel they are “meant to be mediocre in this hyper-competitive world”. By his own admission, an average student who barely scored first division in XIIth and average in sports and co-curricular activities, he still soared by passion for airplanes and aviation.
On 8 December 2021, Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and members of his staff were amongst 10 passengers and four crew members aboard an Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 helicopter flight en route from the Sulur Air Force Base to the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, where Rawat was to deliver a lecture. Around 12:10 pm the aircraft crashed on the outskirts of the hamlet of Nanjappachatiram, Bandishola panchayat, in the Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area of Nilgiris district. Group Captain Varun Singh was the only survivor.
After the crash, Gp. Capt Singh, who was the Directing Staff at the DSSC, was taken to the Military Hospital, Wellington, and later moved to the Command Hospital, Bengaluru, where his medical condition remained critical. He had sustained severe burns and remained unconscious. He succumbed early 15th December after a tough fight with death.
A pall of gloom descended on Army Public School, Chandimandir, as news of Group Captain Varun Singh’s demise broke. Students and teachers of the school had been praying for his recovery. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
His parents are settled in Bhopal, MP. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said an institution or a building would be named after him in consultation with his family. Paying tributes to Group Capt. Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on social media, “Group Captain Varun Singh served the nation with pride, valour and utmost professionalism. I am extremely anguished by his passing away. His rich service to the nation will never be forgotten. Condolences to his family and friends, Om Shanti.”