IAF’s combat helicopter makes emergency landing in Hoshiarpur village

Technical glitch said to be the reason; pilots safe

An Indian Air Force (IAF) Apache combat helicopter made an emergency landing in the fields of Budhawar village of Hoshiarpur’s Mukerian sub-division on Friday afternoon, reportedly due to a technical glitch. Police have now cordoned off the area.

It had taken off from the Pathankot airbase. (HT PHOTO)

Two pilots on board --Flight Lieutenant Anoop and Flight Lieutenant Rajat --are safe. There was no damage to the helicopter or on the ground, they said.

Police have now cordoned off the area. (PRADEEP PANDIT/HT)

The attack choppers are based out of the Pathankot airbase and this chopper had taken off from there. Sources in IAF said the Air Force will check the helicopter and then take it back to its base.

The Air Force had last year inducted AH-64E Apache Guardian Attack choppers.

Yesterday, a Cheetah helicopter of the IAF had made a precautionary landing due to technical snag on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.

(with agency inputs)