The IAF’s latest brand new acquisition, an Apache attack helicopter, made a precautionary landing on Friday in a field in Hoshiarpur, Punjab after taking off from its operational base Pathankot. The crew and helicopter are safe and a mandatory court of inquiry is on to ascertain the cause leading to the landing.
Incidentally, the IAF saw two such landings in successive days involving the latest and one of the oldest helicopters. A Cheetah helicopter made an emergency landing on a highway in western Uttar Pradesh after taking off from the Hindon airbase and bound for Chandigarh. While this helicopter is more than 40 years old, Apaches were inducted into service in September last year.
Giving details about the latest incident, the IAF said in a statement here “the helicopter, after approximately 1 hour of flying had indications of a critical failure and carried out a safe landing West of Indora, Punjab. The captain of the aircraft took correct and prompt actions to recover the helicopter safely. The statement said all crew onboard the helicopter are safe and there has been no damage to any property. “The aircraft will be recovered after necessary rectification,” IAF added.
India contracted 22 Apaches from Boeing of the US under a ?13,951.57croresin September 2015. The first batch of Apaches was formally inducted in September 2019 and based at Pathankot Air Force station. So far, 17 helicopters have been inducted and all 22 are scheduled to be delivered by end 2020. Apache is a heavy attack helicopter and the most advanced currently in service globally. These are replacing the ageing Russian Mi-35 attack helicopters in service. The Apaches will be based at Pathankot and Jorhat, Assam.