IAF’s Apache attack chopper makes emergency landing in Ladakh; both pilots safe
STATE TIMES NEWS
New Delhi: An Apache helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) made an emergency landing during an operational sortie in Ladakh and it sustained damage due to “undulating” terrain and high altitude, the IAF said on Thursday.
The IAF said the incident took place on Wednesday and both the pilots on board are safe.
It was the first such incident involving an Apache chopper in the IAF, military officials said.
A Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the incident.
The IAF had procured 22 Apache attack helicopters and the chopper that had to make the emergency landing was based in the Pathankot Air Force station in Punjab.
“An IAF Apache helicopter carried out a precautionary landing during an operational training sortie in Ladakh on April 3. During the process of this landing, it sustained damage due to undulating terrain and high altitude,” the IAF said in a brief statement.
“Both the pilots on board are safe and have been recovered to the nearest airbase. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause,” it said.
People familiar with the incident said the chopper made the emergency landing at a high-altitude place between Leh and Thoise.
The Apaches are extensively operating from Leh and Thoise air bases while carrying out operational sorties in eastern Ladakh.
The people cited above said the two pilots sustained minor injuries in the incident.
India had finalised a contract in September 2015 to procure 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinooks choppers from the US at a cost of around USD 3 billion.
The first batch of Apache choppers was inducted into the IAF in 2019.
The AH-64 Apaches hold the reputation of being the world’s one of the most advanced and proven attack helicopters.
The helicopter is capable of delivering a variety of weapons which include air to ground Hellfire missiles.
Security forces conduct area domination patrol in Rajouri ahead of LS polls
n STATE TIMES NEWS
RAJOURI: Police and paramilitary forces on Thursday conducted an area domination patrol (ADP) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri town and peripheral areas ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, officials said.
The exercise was jointly organised by Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Force. “In order to strengthen the inter-forces coordination as well as for area domination and familiarisation in view of the parliamentary polls, a long area domination patrol was taken out in Rajouri town and peripheral areas,” a police officer said. Starting from District Police Lines (DPL) in Rajouri, the patrol passed through different areas of the town and those on its periphery.
It was led by senior officers of the forces, he said. During the exercise, locals were asked to inform the security forces about any suspicious movements or objects, he added. The Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in five phases on April 19 (Udhampur) and April 26 (Jammu), May 7 (Anantnag-Rajouri), May 13 (Srinagar) and May 20 (Baramulla). The counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.
