On 11th November, 1992, Wing Commander Viman Kumar Arora, the Commanding Officer (CO), Squadron Leader Anil Kumar Gupta and Sergeant Ramesh Chand, Flight Gunner were on a helicopter flight entrusted with the task of providing logistics support to ONGC at Bombay High.

On the return flight, due to a serious emergency while the helicopter was still over the sea, Wing Commander Arora decided to land the helicopter in the nearest available platform. Suddenly the helicopter experienced a total loss of power and it crashed into the sea. The cockpit was immediately flooded. Wing Commander Arora managed to make good his escape from the rapid sinking helicopter. He was soon followed by Squadron Leader Gupta. In the mean while Sergeant Ramesh Chand had prepared the passengers for a quick exit on impact. He threw out the dingy as soon as the helicopter hit the water but it was pushed back. Sergeant Ramesh Chand, with total disregard to personal safety, assisted seven to eight passengers in getting out the sinking helicopter.

In the meanwhile, Wg Cdr Arora, saw a passenger struggling for his life. He swam across to help him. In the state of panic, the passenger struggled and tried to push Wing Commander Arora, in the process causing injuries to him. Despite this, Wing Commander Arora persisted with his efforts and was able to save the passenger from drowning. Thereafter he saw another passenger struggling for survival. He swam to the passenger and helped the passenger to hold on to him till the help arrived.

On emerging from the cockpit, Squadron Leader Gupta had noticed a passenger shouting for help. He swam across and provided the needed help, thus ensuring the passenger's survival. He then observed the Flight Engineer, the fourth crew member, was injured and in danger. Unmindful of his own safety, Squadron leader Gupta swam across to the Flight Engineer and assisted him to stay afloat.

Wing Commander Viman Kumar Arora, the Commanding Officer (CO), Squadron Leader Anil Kumar Gupta and Sergeant Ramesh Chand, thus, displayed exemplary courage and presence of mind, in saving valuable lives.

On 11th November, 1992, Wing Commander Viman Kumar Arora, the Commanding Officer (CO), Squadron Leader Anil Kumar Gupta and Sergeant Ramesh Chand, Flight Gunner were on a helicopter flight entrusted with the task of providing logistics support to ONGC at Bombay High.

On the return flight, due to a serious emergency while the helicopter was still over the sea, Wing Commander Arora decided to land the helicopter in the nearest available platform. Suddenly the helicopter experienced a total loss of power and it crashed into the sea. The cockpit was immediately flooded. Wing Commander Arora managed to make good his escape from the rapid sinking helicopter. He was soon followed by Squadron Leader Gupta. In the mean while Sergeant Ramesh Chand had prepared the passengers for a quick exit on impact. He threw out the dingy as soon as the helicopter hit the water but it was pushed back. Sergeant Ramesh Chand, with total disregard to personal safety, assisted seven to eight passengers in getting out the sinking helicopter.

In the meanwhile, Wg Cdr Arora, saw a passenger struggling for his life. He swam across to help him. In the state of panic, the passenger struggled and tried to push Wing Commander Arora, in the process causing injuries to him. Despite this, Wing Commander Arora persisted with his efforts and was able to save the passenger from drowning. Thereafter he saw another passenger struggling for survival. He swam to the passenger and helped the passenger to hold on to him till the help arrived.

On emerging from the cockpit, Squadron Leader Gupta had noticed a passenger shouting for help. He swam across and provided the needed help, thus ensuring the passenger's survival. He then observed the Flight Engineer, the fourth crew member, was injured and in danger. Unmindful of his own safety, Squadron leader Gupta swam across to the Flight Engineer and assisted him to stay afloat.

Wing Commander Viman Kumar Arora, the Commanding Officer (CO), Squadron Leader Anil Kumar Gupta and Sergeant Ramesh Chand, thus, displayed exemplary courage and presence of mind, in saving valuable lives.

On 11th November, 1992, Wing Commander Viman Kumar Arora, the Commanding Officer (CO), Squadron Leader Anil Kumar Gupta and Sergeant Ramesh Chand, Flight Gunner were on a helicopter flight entrusted with the task of providing logistics support to ONGC at Bombay High.

On the return flight, due to a serious emergency while the helicopter was still over the sea, Wing Commander Arora decided to land the helicopter in the nearest available platform. Suddenly the helicopter experienced a total loss of power and it crashed into the sea. The cockpit was immediately flooded. Wing Commander Arora managed to make good his escape from the rapid sinking helicopter. He was soon followed by Squadron Leader Gupta. In the mean while Sergeant Ramesh Chand had prepared the passengers for a quick exit on impact. He threw out the dingy as soon as the helicopter hit the water but it was pushed back. Sergeant Ramesh Chand, with total disregard to personal safety, assisted seven to eight passengers in getting out the sinking helicopter.

In the meanwhile, Wg Cdr Arora, saw a passenger struggling for his life. He swam across to help him. In the state of panic, the passenger struggled and tried to push Wing Commander Arora, in the process causing injuries to him. Despite this, Wing Commander Arora persisted with his efforts and was able to save the passenger from drowning. Thereafter he saw another passenger struggling for survival. He swam to the passenger and helped the passenger to hold on to him till the help arrived.

On emerging from the cockpit, Squadron Leader Gupta had noticed a passenger shouting for help. He swam across and provided the needed help, thus ensuring the passenger's survival. He then observed the Flight Engineer, the fourth crew member, was injured and in danger. Unmindful of his own safety, Squadron leader Gupta swam across to the Flight Engineer and assisted him to stay afloat.

Wing Commander Viman Kumar Arora, the Commanding Officer (CO), Squadron Leader Anil Kumar Gupta and Sergeant Ramesh Chand, thus, displayed exemplary courage and presence of mind, in saving valuable lives.

On 26 Nov 92, Flight Lieutenant Anurana Saluja was authorized to fly in a two aircraft parallel quarter attack sortie. During the sortie, he noticed warning lights for both hydraulic systems coming “ON”. Though the pressures indicated normal, he experienced severe longitudinal oscillations which were violent enough to warrant abandoning of aircraft by resorting to an ejection. Instead, he controlled the aircraft promptly in an exceptionally professional and cool manner. He then experienced temporary radio failures, trim failure, abnormal position of the cone system resulting in loss of engine thrust and tachogenerator malfunction giving inaccurate engine power settings. Soon after, he noticed the main pneumatic failure which meant that maximum rate braking, directional control and tail chute operation, on landing, would not be available.

With all these emergencies, the aircraft could have gone out of control, or exploded and crashed at any moment. The situation warranted an ejection by the pilot. Flight Lieutenant Saluja, however, did not eject and handle all the emergencies in a most competent manner. He very gallantly, recovered the aircraft and landed it safely, at the risk to his own life. Flight Lieutenant Saluja not only saved a valuable aircraft but was able to provide vital evidence during investigations which could go a long way in instituting remedial measures for future.

Flight Lieutenant Anurana Saluja, demonstrated technical skill, professional competence and great valour in dealing with emergencies.

Wing Commander Devender Singh Jain was on posted strength of a Jaguar Squadron.

During Squadron detachment at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 17 February 1993, while at take off point, he saw a MiG-21 BIS aircraft crash just outside the perimeter fence; but did not see the pilot eject. He at once transmitted the details to the air traffic control on the radio. He then switched off his aircraft, jumped out and rushed to the crash site after negotiating the double barbed wire airfield fencing and the brimming sewerage drain outside it. He was the first Air Force personnel to reach the crash site. Despite an imminent fire hazard due to a large amount of fuel that had spilled around the crashed aircraft, near its smouldering tail portion, Squadron Leader Jain, along with a civilian, managed to extricate the incapacitated pilot from under the wreckage and provided initial first-aid. He then selected and cleared a site for the rescue helicopter to land, marshalled the crew to a safe landing, and then assisted in putting the injured pilot into the helicopter.

Wing Commander Devender Singh Jain showed outstanding presence of mind, situational awareness and firm resolve in rescuing a fellow officer from crashed aircraft.