SOURCE: AFI
In recognition of his extraordinary courage and exceptional flying skills, Wing Commander Vernon Desmond Keane VM has been awarded the prestigious Shaurya Chakra. His heroic actions during a life-threatening situation on 24th July 2023 while piloting a Jaguar fighter aircraft have been hailed as a testament to his dedication, composure, and expertise.
On 24th July 2023, Wing Commander Vernon Desmond Keane, posted to a fighter squadron, was conducting a sortie on a Jaguar fighter aircraft. During the flight, he encountered an unprecedented and critical situation when both the Oil 1 and Oil 2 failure warnings activated simultaneously. This malfunction indicated a severe issue in the oil system, necessitating the immediate shutdown of both engines to prevent their imminent seizure. Such a scenario had never occurred before, and no established procedures existed for dealing with this type of failure.
Despite the alarming situation, Wing Commander Keane maintained calm composure and made the decision to shut down the left engine. He then initiated recovery using the right engine, heading towards the nearest runway. However, while approaching the runway at an altitude of 2,500 feet, disaster struck again—the right engine failed catastrophically, leaving the aircraft powerless and in a rapid descent towards the densely populated town of Gorakhpur.
With the aircraft now in a powerless glide and rapidly losing altitude, the situation demanded immediate ejection. However, Wing Commander Keane displayed remarkable situational awareness and exceptional flying skills. Realizing the potential risk to civilian lives and property, he made the courageous decision to remain with the stricken aircraft. He skillfully maneuvered the aircraft away from the populated area, jettisoned empty fuel tanks clear of the town, and simultaneously attempted to restart the left engine.
In a remarkable display of perseverance and expertise, he successfully revived the left engine, regaining control of the aircraft. Wing Commander Keane then deftly managed to land the Jaguar safely on a single engine, averting what could have been a catastrophic event.
Wing Commander Keane’s actions during this harrowing episode not only saved a valuable national asset but also prevented a probable loss of lives and property on the ground. His courage, presence of mind, and exceptional flying skills in the face of multiple life-threatening situations have been rightfully recognized with the Shaurya Chakra, one of India’s highest peacetime gallantry awards.