Sqn Ldr Prashant Kumar Bundela VM

Squadron Leader Prashant Kumar Bundela hailed from Bagar in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, born on 14 December 1970. His early education took place at Sainik School, Chittorgarh, where the seeds of his future career in the Indian Air Force were sown. A disciplined and bright student, he was selected to join the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) after completing his schooling. He joined the 79th NDA course as part of the Golf Squadron and passed out on 1 December 1990. Following the NDA, he proceeded to the Air Force Academy for further training. On 14 December 1991, he was commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a pilot officer in the fighter stream, graduating as part of the 148th Pilots’ Course. Over the years, he served with various flying squadrons at different air bases, steadily building his reputation as a competent and dedicated fighter pilot.

During the course of his service, Sqn Ldr Bundela also settled into family life, marrying Ms. Meera, with whom he had a daughter, Prachi. By 1999, he was serving with No. 45 Squadron, based at a forward airbase in Gujarat, and had already demonstrated exceptional professional competence. On 10 August 1999, Sqn Ldr Bundela was the leader of a two-aircraft MiG-21 Bis live Air Defence alert mission. At 1100 hours, after several hours on resolute standby, his mission was scrambled by a radar unit to intercept an unidentified aircraft approaching the international border, northwest of Naliya. Wasting no time, Sqn Ldr Bundela led his formation to meet the potential threat. Upon visual contact, the intruder was identified as a Pakistan Navy Atlantique maritime reconnaissance aircraft that had crossed into Indian airspace. Recognizing the hostile nature of its reconnaissance/ELINT/probe mission, Sqn Ldr Bundela first attempted to signal the intruder to land at a designated Indian airbase. However, instead of complying, the intruding aircraft turned menacingly towards his MiG-21, displaying clear hostile intent.

Maintaining composure under enemy threat, Sqn Ldr Bundela sought and received clearance to engage. He fired a single air-to-air missile, which struck the target with precision, bringing down the intruder and neutralizing the threat to India’s airspace. For this conspicuous act of gallantry in the face of the enemy, coupled with his professionalism and unwavering courage, Squadron Leader Prashant Kumar Bundela was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal by the President of India on 26 January 2000.

Operational Air Mission: 04 Apr 2002

In Aug 2002, Sqn Ldr Prashant Kumar Bundela was serving with 32 Squadron based at the Air Force base at Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The 32 Squadron was raised at Jodhpur on 15 October 1963 with Wing Commander Emanuel Raymond Fernandes as its first commanding officer. Initially, it was equipped with Mystere aircraft, but the Squadron later got converted and graduated to the supersonic era with SU-7 aircraft and shifted its base to Ambala. In 1984, the squadron again moved to Jodhpur with Wing Commander Arun Vasant Sathaye as its commanding officer. During April 2002, the squadron was operating MiG-21 aircraft under the command of Wing Commander Rajiv Jain. Sqn Ldr Bundela, by that time, had gathered substantial experience in various air operations. 

On 4 April 2002, Squadron Leader Bundela was on a training sortie for an air combat mission in a MiG-21 Bison aircraft, accompanied by Flight Lieutenant SK Nayak as his co-pilot. The mission was progressing normally until, while flying over the skies near Jalandhar, Sqn Ldr Bundela’s aircraft began to experience engine trouble. The engine sputtered, apparently due to a lack of fuel, and within moments flamed out, completely shutting down. With no power and no possibility of recovery, both pilots were compelled to eject from their aircraft. Flt Lt Nayak managed to parachute down safely, but Sqn Ldr Bundela’s parachute descent ended in a heavy landing on his neck, causing him severe injuries. He immediately went into quadriplegia (paralysis of the upper and lower limbs due to severe injury to the cervical spine). Initially admitted to a hospital in Jodhpur, he was flown to the 'Command Hospital' Pune the same night in a critical condition and underwent a major surgery where doctors replaced the broken neck bone with a platinum plate. This was followed by several medical procedures to address his deteriorating medical condition. He underwent medical treatment for a long time and eventually lost the battle for life on 19 August 2002. Sqn Ldr Bundela was a valiant soldier and committed air warrior, who laid down his life in the line of his duty.  

Sqn Ldr Prashant Kumar Bundela is survived by his wife Smt Meera Bundela and daughter Ms Prachi. 

The citation of "Vayu Sena Medal" awarded to him reads:

Squadron Leader Prashant Kumar Bundela (21540) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the fighter stream on 14 Dec 91 and is posted to a Fighter Squadron in the Western Sector. He has acquitted himself exceptionally during his service, achieving a high level of professional competence. On 10 Aug 99, Sqn Ldr Bundela was the leader of a two aircraft MiG-21 Bis live AD alert mission. After several hours of resolute alert state, at 1100 hrs Sqn Ldr Bundela's mission was scrambled by the radar unit to intercept an unidentified track approaching the international border, North-West of Naliya. After scrambling expeditiously, Sqn Ldr Bundela took his formation to meet the threat and made visual contact with the unidentified aircraft which had crossed the border into Indian airspace and correctly identified the aircraft as a Pakistan Navy Atlantique Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft.

Squadron Leader Bundela asked his Wingman to identify the intruder and judged that intruder was engaged in a hostile Reconnaissance/Elint/Probe Mission. Squadron Leader Bundela first tried to instruct the intruder through visual signals to land at the designated Indian Air Base. However, instead of following these instructions, the intruder turned menacingly towards Sqn Ldr Bundela. On establishing the intruder's hostile intentions Sqn Ldr Bundela, keeping his composure under enemy threat, fired an Air to Air Missile at the intruder. The intruder was brought down by the single missile finding its mark. The threat to our air space and hostile action of the enemy was thus neutralized. Squadron Leader Bundela's gallantry ensured the inviolability and sanctity of Indian Air Space against hostile action by enemy aircraft.

For this conspicuous act of gallantry in the face of the enemy and for displaying professionalism, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal' to Squadron Leader Prashant Kumar Bundela.

• Rajasthan government has erected a Statue of Sqn Ldr Prashant Kumar Bundela at his native place Bagar in in Jhunjhunu district in his honour.