President Droupadi Murmu Awards Wing Commander Jaspreet Singh Sandhu for Exceptional Courage
On August 14, President Droupadi Murmu honored Wing Commander Jaspreet Singh Sandhu with the Vayu Sena Medal for his bravery during a high-risk emergency on January 25, 2024. Sandhu, an IAF Flying Pilot, was flying a Bison aircraft when he encountered a severe control issue upon landing.
According to the Ministry of Defence, Sandhu experienced a vicious yaw to the right after deploying the tail chute. Despite facing an obstruction in the rudder pedal, which is crucial for directional control, he maintained his composure and took prompt actions. He applied full brakes and switched off the aircraft, successfully stopping it on the runway without any damage.
The post-flight investigation revealed that the UHF antenna connector of the main radio was obstructing the rudder pedal mechanism. Sandhu’s quick identification of the problem and his decisive actions prevented a potential catastrophe, ensuring the safety of both the aircraft and himself.
For his exceptional courage, Wing Commander Jaspreet Singh Sandhu was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry).
Doubts Revealed
President Droupadi Murmu -: She is the current President of India, which means she is the head of the country.
Wing Commander -: This is a rank in the Indian Air Force, similar to a leader or captain in other jobs.
Jaspreet Singh Sandhu -: He is a pilot in the Indian Air Force who showed great bravery.
Vayu Sena Medal -: This is an award given to members of the Indian Air Force for showing bravery or doing something very special.
Bison aircraft -: This is a type of fighter jet used by the Indian Air Force.
aerodynamic control emergency -: This means there was a problem with how the aircraft was flying, which could have been very dangerous.