Missing IAF AN-32 aircraft: In this Punjab family, a mother who doesn’t know her son’s missing, a father who is searching for him

For the Indian Air Force (IAF) Flight Lieutenant Mohit Garg (27), staying at home for a few days was never less than a luxury. Shifting to a hostel when he was in Class 5, Mohit, whom his family describes as an “extraordinarily intelligent and bright boy”, hardly ever stayed at home.

Mohit is one of the 13 people on board the IAF AN-32 aircraft that went missing Monday in Arunachal Pradesh after taking off from Assam's Jorhat. Since Monday, his family back home in Samana town of Punjab's Patiala district is only praying for a miracle and ruing if he could've spent some more time with them at home.

Born in a business family, Mohit's father Surinderpal Garg and elder brother Ashwani are commission agents (arthiyas). His sister Meenu is married. He was first from his family to opt for defence forces.

After Class 12, Mohit cleared the NDA entrance exam.

Read | Pilot's wife was on ATC duty in Jorhat when IAF AN-32 vanished from radar

Speaking to The Indian Express at their residence in Samana, Ashwani said that Mohit was an “extraordinarily intelligent boy” and that is why parents sent him to Sainik School (Punjab Public School, Nabha) instead of forcing him into their family business.

“Our father never stopped him from pursuing what he wanted to. He always excelled in studies and even refused to pursue engineering. Since his schooling was from PPS, his interest grew in defence forces. He…