IAF Heroes Conferred Shaurya Chakra for Exceptional Courage Under Duress

Wing Commander Vernon Desmond Keane and Squadron Leader Deepak Kumar of the IAF were awarded the Shaurya Chakra for extraordinary bravery. Both pilots overcame life-threatening emergencies to safely land critically damaged aircraft. The award highlights their superlative flying skills and remarkable presence of mind during perilous missions.

Wing Commander Vernon Desmond Keane and Squadron Leader Deepak Kumar, both pilots in the Indian Air Force (IAF), were honored with the Shaurya Chakra for displaying exceptional courage in life-threatening situations. The prestigious gallantry award was conferred upon them on Wednesday.

Keane managed to safely land a severely damaged Jaguar fighter aircraft despite numerous technical failures that would have otherwise led to an unavoidable crash. His quick thinking and expert flying prevented civilian casualties and safeguarded national assets.

Similarly, Kumar exhibited outstanding resolve during a night sortie when his aircraft suffered a bird strike, causing an engine flameout. Despite limited visibility and a compressed timeframe, he successfully force-landed the aircraft, showcasing extraordinary piloting skills and saving lives and equipment.

(With inputs from agencies.)