'Engines Were Kept Running': IAF Pulls Off Another Tactically Brilliant Rescue Mission In Sudan, Brings Back 192 Indians In 24-Hour Long Operation

The Indian Air Force executed a daring mission to evacuate 192 people, including women, children, and elderly individuals from war-torn Sudan under the Operation Kaveri.

The mission was carried out by IAF's C-17 Globemaster aircraft that took off from Hindan base in Ghaziabad, and landed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where it refueled for a non-stop flight to India via Sudan.

The aircraft carried excess fuel from Jeddah to avoid the risk of non-availability of fuel and refuelling delays in Sudan.

The mission was unique as the aircraft had to carry passengers who were Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), foreign nationals, or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders and could not be taken to Jeddah.

At Sudan, the aircraft carried out an overhead steep tactical arrival followed by an assault approach to land the heavy jet.

"During the entire duration of the ground operations in Sudan, the aircraft engines were kept running in readiness of a quick exit from the airfield, in case of such a need arising," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Saturday (6 May).

During the flight, the crew encountered an unplanned emergency when one of the passengers became unconscious.

The crew promptly administered 100 per cent oxygen to stabilise the passenger.

The aircraft landed in Ahmedabad late in the evening of 4 May and then at its home base, Hindan, late in the night on the same day.

The crew of the aircraft worked tirelessly through extended duty periods of nearly 24 hours to successfully evacuate the last of the stranded people back to India.