Sky Force

At Adampur Airbase in 1965, Group Captain Ahuja and Tabby lead a reconnaissance mission after intelligence warns of Pakistan's growing weaponry. Tabby photographs weapons along the border, even when Pakistani officers notice him. The discovery deepens the perception that a preemptive strike could be necessary to blunt the threat.

Pakistan conducts a devastating night assault on the Indian airbase, catching defenders off guard and destroying planes on the tarmac. Ahuja argues that India must strike first to neutralize Pakistan's buildup, but the government resists taking decisive action. The attack escalates the conflict and sets the stage for a larger retaliation.

India decides to strike back at Pakistan's air bases to destroy the Star Striker fleet. Ahuja learns from a Pakistani PM speech that the Star Striker planes are centralized at Sargodha. The mission is named Sky Force and planning centers on a long-range strike despite fuel constraints.

Ahuja drafts three assault teams for Sky Force, but Lawrence orders Tabby to stay on standby rather than join the core teams. The constraint is framed as protocol rather than capability, leaving Tabby isolated from the operation. Tabby's loyalty and potential are kept out of the main plan.

The Sky Force mission is completed with successful strikes and returns to base, but Tabby vanishes a few minutes after his scheduled departure. The government openly labels his disappearance as rebellious noncompliance rather than investigating. Ahuja mourns the loss in silence while the search for Tabby stalls.

Tabby's wife Geeta urges Ahuja to find him, reminding him of his promise to protect him like a younger brother. The government offers little assistance, effectively stalling the case. Ahuja's guilt grows as Tabby's fate remains unresolved.

In 1971, Pakistan launches a new attack and Indian forces capture a Pakistani pilot, Ahmed, during the ensuing firefight. Interrogation reveals that Ahmed had previously been awarded for killing an Indian officer in 1965. The link between the two wars becomes clearer, intensifying the hunt for Tabby.

Ahmed's confession indicates a brave Indian pilot fought back against superior tech and downed his aircraft, a pilot whose identity remains unknown at first. The story ties Tabby to that act, but proof is elusive. The revelation strengthens the case that Tabby was the true hero behind the 1965 victory.

As the Sky Force team members receive Vir Chakras, Tabby is conspicuously left out due to his absence and alleged noncompliance. Public sentiment and family outrage grow as the government avoids acknowledging his role. Ahuja carries the weight of this injustice and the growing rift with authorities.

Geeta's insistence that Tabby be found continues to haunt Ahuja, who vows to find his lost brother-in-arms. He presses the case privately, courting risk and challenging official silence. The bond between the two pilots deepens the personal stakes of the mystery.

In the 1971 present, Ahuja is guilt-ridden by Tabby's unaccounted fate and places his own Vir Chakra on Tabby's portrait. The symbolic act marks a personal reconciliation with the missing brother and acknowledges Tabby's sacrifice. Government recognition remains elusive.

Twenty years later, a retired Ahuja receives a parcel from Ahmed containing a book about the 1965 war. The new evidence convinces him to reopen the case and join a formal investigating team. The journey takes him across borders as they seek the truth behind Tabby's fate.

The team travels the world, interviewing witnesses and cross-checking memories in an effort to identify Tabby and reconstruct the years he disappeared. The investigation evolves from a military inquiry into a deeply personal mission to honor a fallen comrade. The pursuit gradually pieces together a clearer picture of Tabby's bravery.

Ahmed meets the investigators in Pakistan and confirms that Tabby was the unknown Indian pilot who saved him twice, shot down Ahmed's aircraft, and sacrificed himself on Pakistani soil. The revelation resolves the central mystery surrounding Tabby's fate. The truth is finally audible after decades of ambiguity.

Tabby is finally awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously, becoming the only Indian soldier to receive the honor for actions in 1965. The award restores Tabby's memory within the national narrative and brings closure to Ahuja and Geeta. The family and country honor Tabby's ultimate sacrifice.