IAF pilots rescue 121 people from a devastated airfield in Sudan using night vision goggles.

By Manjeet Negi and Akshay Dongare: 121 people were successfully rescued by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from a small airport in Wadi Sayyidna, Sudan, which is located about 40 kilometres to the north of Khartoum. The travellers, among them a pregnant woman, lacked transportation to Port Sudan.

The convoy arrived at the airstrip under the command of the Indian Defence Attaché. The runway, however, had a deteriorating surface and was devoid of fuel, landing lights, or navigational approach aids (which are required to guide an aircraft landing at night).

During the ongoing battle, Group Captain Ravi Nanda piloted a C-130J Special Ops aircraft for the Indian Air Force in the risky operation to rescue 121 Indian citizens from a small airstrip in Wadi Sayidna, close to Khartoum, Sudan.

The C-130J crew used their Electro-Optical/Infra Red sensors to check that the runway was free of obstructions and hostile forces. Then, in nearly complete darkness, the aircrew executed a tactical approach while wearing night vision goggles (NVG).

After landing, the aircraft's engines continued to run as eight IAF Garud Commandos boarded the plane and secured the passengers and their belongings. NVGs were also used during the runway departure from an unlit area.