Lt Cdr Rohith Mohandas Nambiar awarded ‘Shaurya Chakra’ for safe helicopter landing

Lt Cdr Rohith Mohandas Nambiar was awarded ‘Shaurya Chakra’ for having successfully and safely landed his single engine Chetak helicopter with a damaged Tail rotor (which causes loss of directional control & leads to a spinning effect of the helicopter) while ferrying the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command.

On 08 Apr 11, Lt Cdr Nambiar was flying Lt Gen NC Marwah, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command, from Naval Air Station Shibpur to Neil Island. After an hour of flying the tail rotor control cable of the single engine Chetak helicopter got damaged and Lt Cdr Nambiar lost directional control of the aircraft (loss of tail rotor in a helicopter leads to spinning effect). Despite his limited flying experience Displaying nerves of steel, Lt Cdr Nambiar reacted in an exceptional manner. He flew the aircraft back to INS Utkrosh from over 20 nautical miles out and landed it safely.

Lieutenant Commander Rohit Mohandas Nambiar awarded ‘Shaurya Chakra’ on 63rd Republic day for displaying exceptional courage and initiative in the face of great danger.