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IAF pilot's miraculous flight back
Flies back a supersonic jet on a wing and a prayer!

Dec 08, Pathankot: When a MiG-21 aircraft of No.45 Squadron returned from a ground support mission from the Chamb area, the ground crew did not believe what they saw. The MiG-21 that landed was one of the most heavily damaged aircraft that they had seen. Half of the wing leading edge was torn away due to direct hits by Anti Aircraft fire. A big hole was gaping out of the dorsal fin. The Communication arial was nowhere to be seen, the Pilot obviously was not able to contact the ATC.

However someone in the ATC gauged the aircraft appearance and handling and very wisely directed the crash barrier to be set up. The MiG after landing engaged the crash barrier and came to a stand still.

Out of the cockpit jumped Flt Lt Apram Jeet Singh. AJ as he was widely known had taken off from Pathankot as No.2 in a formation of 2 Migs that were flying cabrank over Chamb.

On recieving a call to hit some enemy tanks both AJ as well as his leader engaged the Pakistani armour on the ground. Making multiple passes and picking up targets at will. .

The severely damaged wingroot of Flt lt A J Singh's MiG-21

However, the Pakistani AA Guns struck back, As both the aircraft came in for a run on the targets, they were met with a well placed curtain of fire. AJ's leader's aircraft was hit and AJ saw him punch out. But AJ had problems of his own, his aircraft too was straddled with gunfire. He knew that his aircraft was bady damaged, but finding the controls to be responsive even thought they were rough, AJ decided to fly back to Pathankot.

When asked for the reason behind taking such a risky decision, AJ told reporters that he did not fancy a stay in an enemy POW Camp. He was only 40 miles inside Pakistani territory and he decided to atleast fly to

Indian territory before he contemplated ejecting.

Once over Indian territory, Apramjeet decided that the aircraft was controllable and could probably be landed with some effort. With great difficulty and tremendous skill, AJ put down his MiG on Pathankot's runway, at an airspeed atleast a 100 km above the recommended landing speed. It was not surprising that he engaged the barrier.

Flt Lt Apram Jeet Singh, who flew back the aircraft back to base

Personnel of the ground crew were amazed at the size of the damage, nevertheless they have taken it up as a challenge to get the aircraft back to "flying fit" and "fighting fit" status.