On 27th January, 1986 Flight Lieutenant Naseem Akhtar was detailed for an instructional story with a foreign trainee at a flying training base. Shortly after take off, while leaving circuit at 1300' above ground level, he experienced severe engine vibration. He took the correct action of throttling back the engine but in this process the engine flamed out. He then tried a hot re-light, while easing up, which provided to be of no avail. He promptly asked his pupil to eject keeping in view the low height. The pupil was hesitant and did not respond to instructions. At this stage Flight Lieutenant Naseem Akhtar would have been fully justified in ejecting himself, since any further delay would have jeopardized his own safety, in view of the low height. Completely disregarding the immediate danger to his own life he decided not to abandon his pupil into the hands of fate. He quickly went over the relight drill and the engine relit seconds before the impact with the ground. Opening full power he commenced a climb back towards base. However, shortly thereafter the engine flamed out again. Flt Lt Akhtar himself jettisoned the canopy and asked his pupil to eject. Not being sure of the pupil's reaction, he simultaneously attempted relight. This time, however the pupil ejected, but, even as he did so, the engine once again picked up, though at a very low height. He coolly assessed the situation and in spite of the high noise level in cock pit due to a jettisoned canopy and the unreliable engine, he landed the aircraft immediately and safely.

Flight Lieutenant Naseem Akhtar, at great peril to his own life, faced a totally unforeseen situation coolly and lived up to the loftiest ideals of human conflict. He not only saved the valuable life of his people but also brought back the aircraft safely.