The Indian Navy awarded Lieutenant Commander Bhaskar Rajvanshi a gallantry medal for his exceptional courage and professionalism in saving an advanced light helicopter (ALH) from a state of “catastrophic control failure.” This was the first documented instance of a successful recovery from collective control failure emergency in the ALH fleet across all services.
On March 8, 2023, Lt Cdr Rajvanshi was piloting the ALH MK III helicopter from the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant to Mumbai when he encountered a catastrophic control failure at 500 feet above mean sea level. Despite the aircraft suffering an uncommanded loss of collective power and rapid descent, he managed to safely ditch the helicopter at sea, ensuring the safety of the crew and preserving an asset worth over Rs 100 crore.
Lt Cdr Rajvanshi’s extraordinary piloting skills and quick response helped avoid a potential fatal disaster and saved the lives of the crew members. His actions also prevented damage to civil property and other vessels. He safely guided his crew to deploy emergency floatation gear and safety equipment, demonstrating calmness and discipline in a dangerous situation.
The Indian Navy honored three other officers with the Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry): Commander Manish Singh Karki, Lieutenant Commander Panneerselvam Vishnu Prasanna, and Commander Kaustab Banerjee. Lt Cdr Prasanna led a mission to salvage a submerged aircraft from a depth of 219 meters and displayed exceptional bravery and skill. Cdr Banerjee undertook a daring mission to provide immediate assistance to a disabled platform at sea, flying a helicopter for 250 nautical miles in challenging conditions.
The ALH is an indigenous aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. These awards reflect the high standards of courage, skill, and professionalism upheld by the Indian Navy.