President Confers Vayu Sena Medal on Flight Lieutenant Pradeep Murugan (36071) Met/Garud

Flt Lt Pradeep Murugan (36071) Meteorology/ Garud is on the posted strength of a Garud Flight as the Commanding Officer deployed in Op Rakshak with a batallion of Rashtriya Rifles (RR).

On May 30, 2022, during Op Chak Rajpura, based on a specific intelligence input regarding presence of terrorists, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was planned and the team was launched in a built up area of Pulwama district. Flt Lt Pradeep Murugan led the Guard Squad from western direction and cordoned the target area by 1700 hours. A total of 12 houses were taken inside the cordon. After initial cordon was established the terrorists fired on the cordon party of Garuds and tried to break down the cordon. Flt Lt Pradeep Murugan along with his team immediately retaliated with pin point, effective and heavy volume of fire, and foiled the escape attempt of terrorists. After the initial fire from the terrorists the target house was identified and the cordon was shifted towards the target house.

Flt Lt Murugan tactically placed the Garud Light Bullet Proof Vehicle (LBPV) amidst the heavy threat in front of the target house in between the high volume of fire with LMG mounted on it. The entire search team took position near the vehicle in close range to the target house which resulted in failure of multiple escape attempts by the terrorists. At approximately 0400 hours on 31 May 2022 the held up terrorists rushed towards East of the target area by lobbing a grenade with an attempt to break the cordon and opened heavy volume of fire towards Garud search team. At this critical juncture, sensing the ensued grave danger, Flt Lt Murugan immediately rose to the occasion and showing immense courage, sensible professionalism, excellent and realistic execution, left cover and engaged the terrorists from close range of 30 to 40 metres while eliminating him. The slain terrorist was later identified as category C of Lashkar-e-Toiba Tanzeem.

For this act of exceptional professionalism and courage, Flt Lt Pradeep Murugan is awarded with the Vayu Sena Medal.

President Confers Vayu Sena Medal on Squadron Leader GL Vineeth (31529) Flying (Pilot)

Squadron Leader GL Vineeth (31529) Flying (Pilot) is posted to Transport aircraft base.

On October 19, 2022, he was detailed as the captain of a transport aircraft for an instructional sortie. The sortie was uneventful until the aircraft climbed to 11000 feet in the base local flying area. While demonstrating a stall manoeuvre, a loud noise was heard by the crew and the aircraft yawed and rolled to the left viciously. The port engine oil pressure warning light came on along with master warning light, which indicated that the port engine had suffered severe mechanical damage. Engine failure while in a stalled state of flight at low speeds with reduced control effectiveness makes the task of recovery challenging and calls for a high degree of skill levels. Any delay in regaining control of the aircraft may have resulted in the aircraft entering into spin or in a catastrophic accident.

Sqn Ldr GL Vineeth's prompt actions and high degree of piloting skills prevented the aircraft from going into an unusual attitude. Despite experiencing a critical and undocumented emergency of a dire nature, he maintained his composure. He completed the actions for recovery from stall and promptly shut down the port engine to prevent any further damage to the engine and airframe. His exemplary piloting skills and flawless crew coordination with composed mental state under extreme adverse conditions were instrumental in successfully executing a safe single engine landing. He displayed extreme courage, high degree of situational awareness, exceptional piloting skills and a very high standard of professionalism in recovering a damaged aircraft and thereby saving its occupants.

For this act of exceptional professionalism and courage, Sqn Ldr GL Vineeth is awarded with the Vayu Sena Medal.

President Confers Vayu Sena Medal on Wing Commander Shrey Tomar (30170) Flying (Pilot)

Wing Commander Shrey Tomar (30170-T) Flying (Pilot) is on the posted strength of a fighter squadron.

On January 27, 2023, Wing Commander Shrey Tomar was authorised to lead a long duration Valley Flying mission. Immediately after take-off, both Engine 1 and Engine 2 Fire Warning lights came on almost simultaneously in the cockpit. This was a grave situation as lights indicated that both engines were on fire. The pilot maintained his calm and composure, assessed the situation swiftly and took correct actions of switching off the more critical engine (No.2) before operating fire extinguisher; all this while continuing to fly a heavy aircraft on single engine. Despite being at low levels, he continued a descent to even lower altitude for ensuring availability of adequate thrust and jettisoned fuel to reduce weight. Displaying superior flying skills and good knowledge of terrain, he recovered the aircraft and avoided a catastrophic eventuality. Post flight inspection revealed that aircraft had sustained significant damage and parts of aircraft structure had been burnt and deformed due to fire on both engines.

Wing Commander Shrey Tomar, despite facing a grave situation of fire on both engines, displayed professionalism and courage of an exceptionally high order; wherein he demonstrated quick decision making and carried out a safe and expeditious single engine landing despite facing an unprecedented and a highly dynamic situation. Any delay in action or incorrect actions during a critical stage of flight could have aggravated the situation rapidly and would have led to loss of life or property or even both.

For this act of exceptional professionalism and courage, Wing Commander Shrey Tomar is awarded with the Vayu Sena Medal.

President Confers Vayu Sena Medal on Wing Commander Shiv Kumar Chauhan (28472) Flying (Pilot)

Wing Commander Shiv Kumar Chauhan (28472) Flying (Pilot) is posted to transport aircraft base as a Chief Flying Instructor.

On December 1, 2022, Wing Commander SK Chauhan was detailed to fly instructional sortie on a transport aircraft with a trainee pilot for a training cross country from the base to another airfield & back by night. In the outbound leg while the landing gear was lowered for landing at destination, only the nose landing gear reflected safe indications while main landing gear indications remained unsafe. He initiated emergency actions and on return to the home base, he requested for visual check of landing gears by the ATC. Having confirmed the unsafe indications, he operated the emergency system to lower the landing gears but even this attempt was unsuccessful. Under these exceptional circumstances, when both Main and Emergency system had failed to lower all three wheels, he maintained appreciable composure and continued to handle the situation professionally and courageously. He continued to fly the ac to reduce landing weight and carried out steep turns to apply positive G to lower the undercarriage. This resulted in left main landing gear getting locked down. After having flown for more than four hours with an impending emergency and exhausting all possible options, he made a valiant decision to carry out emergency landing only on left main and nose wheel while the right wheel was locked up. A careful plan was made to mitigate all odds of flying with an inexperienced crew by night. At 0256h on 02 Dec 22, he executed landing with only left main wheel and nose wheel in down position and right wheel locked up. The aircraft veered off to the right and out of the runway. All through this, Wing Commander Chauhan maintained exceptional situational awareness and displayed exemplary piloting skill and courage to control the aircraft, followed by execution of a quick evacuation drill which led to saving all three lives onboard with negligible damage to the aircraft.

For this act of exceptional professionalism and courage, Wing Commander Shiv Kumar Chauhan is awarded Vayu Sena Medal.