In 1971, Cdre. Bhombal volunteered to join the Naval Aviation, boarded on the civilian PIA's Fokker F27 aircraft after the first missile attack in the Port of Karachi. While conducting the maritime reconnaissance in the west of the Cape Monze, Cdre. Bhombal reportedly gave the clearance when he authorized. to send the military signal to the Faisal Air Force Base in Karachi where the F-86 jets were scrambled, and leading an attack on a presumed missile boat that was later identified as the PNS "Zulfiqar (K265)"— the large "River"-class frigate.