New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) On the eve of Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday decided to award two Shaurya Chakra and six Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) to Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel, for their acts of exceptional gallantry and courage.
Wing Commander Vernon Desmond Keane and Squadron Leader Deepak Kumar will be conferred with the Shaurya Chakra. Meanwhile, Wing Commander Jaspreet Singh Sandhu, Wing Commander Anand Vinayak Agashe, Sqn Ldr Mahipal Singh Rathore, Sergeant Ashwani Kumar, Junior Warrant Officer Vikas Raghav and Wing Commander Akshay Arun Mahale with Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), an official statement said.
Wing Commander Vernon Desmond Keane during a sortie on Jaguar fighter aircraft experienced an unprecedented Oil 1 and Oil 2 failure warning on July 24, 2023. While displaying superlative flying skills, he controlled the aircraft, turned away to prevent loss of civilian life and property in case of a probable ejection and jettisoned empty fuel tanks clear of populated area. He simultaneously decided to attempt relight on the left engine and successfully revived it and then deftly controlled and recovered the aircraft safely off a single engine.
Moreover, Squadron Leader Deepak Kumar, while on an instructional night sortie along with a trainee pilot, the Kiran aircraft, experienced a bird hit resulting in engine flame out. The undercarriage retracted and was in the process of going up. He promptly assessed the situation and decided to force land the aircraft straight ahead.
The pilot simultaneously directed the flight cadet to lower the under carriage. Despite limited cues available in the night, he used his exceptional judgement and superlative flying skills to force land the aircraft on the runway with minimum damage.
