IAF pilot honoured for 10-hour mission to rescue hijacked ship from Somali pirates

The officer executed a mission in support of Op Sankalp aimed at anti piracy operations in the Arabian Sea.

Wing Commander Akshay Saxena of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for his exemplary bravery in a high-risk anti-piracy operation and rescuing the Bulgarian-operated bulker Ruen from Somali pirates.

On December 14, 2023, Somali Pirates hijacked the Ruen at a location about 380 nautical miles east of Socotra Island, in the Arabian Sea. They took 17 crew members hostage and sailed the vessel towards the Somali coast, where they began negotiations with the shipowner. However, instead of anchoring off Somalia, the pirates decided to set sail again, likely intending to use the Ruen as a “mother ship” for launching attacks on other vessels in the Indian Ocean.

The mission involved real threat of small arms with the pirates over and above the extended mission timelines which involved flying into airspace of another country undeclared and undetected for close to four hours.

The Officer as Captain of the C-17 aircraft decided to switch off all emitters, fly low level over high seas in foreign territory and drop at dusk time to avoid detection. Even after receiving the changed drop location only 50 NMs prior to the drop, he guided the crew to safely execute a precision airdrop thus resulting in the capture of the pirates and rescue of MV Ruen with its 17 member crew.

He displayed effective inter-service coordination with Indian Navy while maintaining heightened situational awareness both on ground and in air. All possible measures were taken to maintain secrecy of the almost 10 hours long mission. During the flawless execution of the extremely gruelling, mission the officer displayed exceptional courage, dynamic leadership, outstanding professionalism and steadfast determination.

On March 15, 2024, an Indian Navy long-range maritime patrol intercepted the Ruen about 260 nautical miles east of Somalia.

The Indian Warships INS Kolkata and INS Subhadra were positioned alongside the hijacked vessel. In response, the pirates opened fire on the warships and shot down one of INS Kolkata’s surveillance drones.

The Indian military then quickly deployed a team of 18 marine commandos (Marcos) and an IAF C-17 transport aircraft for a precision airdrop mission. Wing Commander Akshay Saxena, as the pilot of the C-17, led the operation that involved the insertion of the commandos into the sea near the Ruen.

This risky operation required Saxena to navigate through a third country’s airspace for nearly four hours without authorisation and in complete secrecy.