Wing Commander Darryl Castelino KC

Wg Cdr Darryl Castelino hailed from Mumbai in Maharashtra and was born on November 2, 1975. Son of Shri Herald Castelino and Smt Leena Castelino, he had a strong desire to join the armed forces right from his childhood, which grew along with his age. He grew up in Santa Cruz in Mumbai, and was a student of Holy Cross High School, Kurla (W), Mumbai. Eventually he got selected for the IAF and was commissioned on 20 June 1988 at the age of 22 years. He got trained as a Helicopter pilot and passed out as part of 161st Pilots' Course.  After completing his training, he served in varous Air Force bases operating different types of Helicopters. After serving for few years, he got married to Ms Jyoti in the year 2013 and the couple was blessed with two children, son Ethan and daughter Angelina. 

In fact, his mother Smt Leena was initially against his joining the defence forces, but over the years, his heroic deeds made her proud of her only son. He would regularly call her up and describe what he was doing, and she would proudly narrate the same to her neighbors, without actually realizing the dangers his job posed. Besides being a passionate flyer, he was a family man and would try to spend time with the family as much as he could. During Christmas, he would return home and often play the Santa for kids. By 2013, he had put in around 14 years of service and had been promoted to the rank of Wing Commander (On 20 June 2011). By that time Wg Cdr Darryl had evolved into a professionally competent Helicopter pilot with substantial experience in various air operations. 

Wg Cdr Darryl, who laid down his life for his country during the Uttarakhand flood relief operations, was a dedicated professional who was undaunted by obstacles. But unfortunately, this brave hero had a tragic end as his body was unrecognizable and DNA samples had to be used to identify his body. The nation will ever remain grateful for his selfless service and supreme sacrifice.

Wg Cdr Darryl Castelino is survived by his wife Smt Jyoti, son Ethan, daughter Angelina Castelino and sisters Smt Sheryl & Smt Meryl.

The citation for the "Kirti Chakra" awarded to him reads:

Wing Commander Darryl Castelino was detailed as the Captain of the Mi-17 V5 helicopter in the disaster relief operations being undertaken by the Indian Air Force in the hilly terrain of Uttarakhand.

A large number of pilgrims had been stranded in the narrow valleys of Kedarnath, for over five days without food and water. Despite being inducted with very little warning from a different operating area, Wg Cdr Castelino in the spirit of a true air warrior, rose to the occasion and promptly commenced undertaking rescue operations from 21 Jun 2013 onwards. In spite of marginal weather, and lack of experience in the area, within a short span of just four days, the officer flew over 22 critical rescue missions, resulting in saving more than 190 pilgrims who were stranded in the worst affected areas of the Kedarnath valley. The officer’s sense of Zeal and enthusiastic commitment to the noble cause of saving as many lives as possible, motivated his comrades to rise to the requirement of the occasion.

On 25 Jun 2013, Wing Commander Darryl Castelino was tasked to move essential supplies and National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams to Kedarnath, located at an elevation of over 11000 feet and rescue stranded pilgrims from Kedarnath during the return sorties. On that day Wg Cdr Castelino carried out three sorties which were undertaken under deteriorating weather conditions. During these three sorties, he was successful in saving of 80 precious lives. Even though weather conditions continued to deteriorate progressively, making flying extremely hazardous, disregarding his personal safety, Wg Cdr Castelino decided to continue with his mission as he realised that every additional shuttle executed would help in saving more lives. Under rapidly darkening skies, the determined officer pressed on with a single minded focus of saving precious lives. During the return leg form Kedarnath to Guptkashi his helicopter impacted on the steep slopes of valley resulting in the office making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

Wing Commander Darryl Castelino displayed acts of conspicuous courage, professional competence and valour for undertaking high risk of mission to save precious lives in hostile weather conditions.

Wing Commander Darryl Castelino displayed acts of conspicuous courage, professional competence and valour for undertaking high risk of mission to save precious lives in hostile weather conditions.

Vakola parish priest Fr Siraj Pinto performed the rites at Darryl’s home and prepared for the onward journey to the church where funeral Mass was offered, followed by the burial at the cemetery. Archbishop of Bombay Dr Percival Fernandez offered the Mass. Parish priest of Thokkur church Fr Richard Lasrado and other priests were present.

Darryl’s mother Leena Castelino (hailing from Kinnigoli, Mangalore), Darryl’s wife Jyothi, son Ethan and daughter Angelina Castelino, sisters Sheryl and Meryl, mother-in-law Jacinta Olivera, father-in-law Clement Olivera, Rony Olivera Padukone, Walter Buthello, Francis Olivera, and hundreds of family members and friends offered homage to Darryl.

Top IAF officers offered state honours before lowering the mortal remains of Darryl into the decorated IAF automobile. BJP leader MLA Gopal C Shetty, Vinod Tawde, Asish Shelar, Vasant Kshirasagar, Billawar Association – Mumbai president L V Amin, and other dignitaries paid their last respects.

It was indeed a heart-rending scene to witness thousands of people in the neighbourhood mourning the brave Indian soldier who laid down his life while rescuing the people in peril. It ignited great patriotic spirit among the people gathered to bid adieu to their hero.

As the funeral procession reached Datta Mandir roundabout, IAF and Indian Navy (IA) offered guard of honour and paid their last respects.

His wife Jyoti said at the funeral, “It was a dream come true for me when we married 10 years ago. He made me feel like a queen and treated my children, Ethan and Angelina, like a prince and a princess. Now that I have lost him, I shall cherish every moment of my 10-year married life for the rest of my life till the time we meet again,”

One of his former colleagues, Capt Unnikrishnan, reminisced that Darryl was a dedicated professional who was undaunted by obstacles.

His younger sister, Sheryl Braganza, recalled that her brave brother, who served the IAF for 19 years, liked to be addressed as ‘Castro Dayavan’.