President Confers Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) to Wing Commander Rahul Shukla Flying (PILOT)

On 20 January 2014, Wing Commander Rahul Shukla was detailed to ferry a MiG-21 T-69 aircraft from Kalaikunda to Ambala with a refuelling halt at Allahabad.  After take off from Allahabad, while climbing passing 5 Km, he heard a bang from the rear portion of the aircraft.  He immediately checked his engine parameters and noticed a rise in Jet Pipe Temperature (JTP).  As he reduced power to control the JPT, his Main Hydraulic Warning light came on with pressure gauge indicating a drop in hydraulic pressure. (The failure of the main hydraulic system manifests into non-availability of certain critical systems which results in reduced controllability of the aircraft).  The situation was further aggravated due to the marginal weather conditions of poor visibility and low cloud base.  Despite being faced with a grave emergency, with uncertain and unclear indications of the exact cause, he retained his composure and took the correct actions of recovering the aircraft on RW 30 at Allahabad.  Since the cloudy conditions prohibited visual contact with the ground, he retained his ventral drop tank so as to preclude jettisoning it over a populated area.  Taking cognisance of the marginal weather conditions, he positioned himself on the final approach for landing, and due to the failure of the main hydraulic system, was forced to lower the undercarriage by emergency means and subsequently execute an immediate overweight landing without flaps necessitating much higher landing speed than the normal stipulated speed.  The reduced visibility due to weather and high rate of descent of 10 m/s on the final approach path provided him a window of only 8-9 seconds to pick up the runway, align and execute a landing.  The frontal visibility was further restricted by the high nose up altitude due to the non availability of flaps.  While on the final approach path, the JPT had stopped registering due to probable fire in rear fuselage.  Maintaining his composure in even increasing adverse circumstances, he carried out a flawless overweight flapless landing at Allahabad and successfully stopped the aircraft without any damage on the runway.  During the landing roll, observers on ground noticed and confirmed smoke and fire in the fuselage section of the aircraft.  After landing, he also assisted in effective fire-fighting operations.  Post flight assessment revealed extensive damage to the aircraft due to fire.

           

Wg Cdr Rahul Shukla displayed exemplary courage, presence of mind, and was able to maintain his composure in adverse circumstances which led to the safe recovery of an aircraft with an engine problem in adverse weather conditions.  His skilful piloting and professional handling of an adverse situation prevented probable civilian casualties on ground and has set an excellent professional example for others to emulate.

            For his act of exemplary courage and professional handling of an unserviceable aircraft under difficult circumstances, Wing Commander Rahul Shukla was awarded VAYU SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY).

Courtesy: pib.nic.in