• Source:JND
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An Apache helicopter of the India Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday made an emergency landing during an operational training sortie in Ladakh. The helicopter sustained damage as it landed at undulating terrain and high altitude.

"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.

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Both the pilots, on board the helicopter, were safe and taken to the nearest airbase. The IAF has launched a court of inquiry into the incident. "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 added.

The incident came days after India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas crashed during an operational sortie in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer. The pilot, however, managed to evacuate safely.

This was the first-ever accident of Tejas Aircraft, which was indigenously built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). A court of inquiry was launched in this incident as well.

Moreover, this incident took place when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was participating in the Bharat Shakti military exercise.

The details of the accident were also shared by the IAF on X. "One Tejas aircraft of the Indian Air Force met with an accident at Jaisalmer, today during an operational training sortie. The pilot ejected safely. A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to find out the cause of the accident," the IAF posted on X.

The IAF in September 2015 procured 22 Apache helicopters in a deal worth a whopping Rs 13,952 crore. The Indian Army

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Yet another procurement of 5 more such helicopters valued at ₹ 5,691 crore.