On the 18th September, 1980, Squadron Leader Om Prakash Shugal was detailed for an air maintenance supply landing sortie to one of the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in the Eastern Sector in a two engine transport aircraft. After take off from ALG on his return flight to base, the starboard engine failed without any prior warning or indication. He immediately turned towards the ALG to carry out an emergency landing and at the same time tried to find the possible cause of engine failure. He had barely coped with the emergency when the port engine started to back fire heavily resulting in loss of power. Under the circumstances he was left with no choice but to draw on remaining power from the port engine as long as was possible so as to reach the ALG. Because of the misbehavior of the port engine he had to eventually switch it off. He nursed whatever power was available from his live engine to make a successful emergency landing at the ALG which is surrounded by inhospitable terrain and thick jungles. Crash landing would have resulted in total destruction of the aircraft and certain death for all on board which included the crew members and nine passengers.

The directional control during the critical stage of approach to ALG became most difficult due to heavy backfire and erratic power from starboard engine. By displaying cool courage in the face of near disaster, Squadron Leader Shugal coped admirably with the situation and with judicious selection of flaps on the final approach in conditions of total loss of power, the successful landing was executed.

Squadron Leader Om Prakash Shugal thus displayed exceptional cool mindedness, superb airmanship and exemplary courage.