Due to the high altitude and undulating terrain, an Indian Air Force Apache helicopter that made an emergency landing in Ladakh suffered damage, the IAF reported on Thursday. It further stated that both of the pilots on board are safe and that the incident happened on Wednesday.

“On April 3, an IAF Apache helicopter made a cautious landing in Ladakh while conducting an operational training sortie. Due to the high altitude and uneven terrain, it received damage during this landing,” the IAF stated in a terse statement.

“The two pilots on board have been retrieved to the closest airbase and are safe. The IAF stated that a Court of Inquiry has been mandated to determine the reason.

The event happened a few days after the IAF’s Chinook, Mi-17, and ALH helicopters made their first-ever landing on a section of the national highway that connects Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of the nation. The exercise was called an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) simulation.

In the wee hours of Tuesday, officials say that two Advance Light Helicopters (ALH), one Russian-made Mi-17, and two US-manufactured Chinooks touched down on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway between Wanpoh and Sangam.

With a maximum speed of 310 kmph and a range of 741 km, chinook helicopters are utilised for heavy lifting, and their main cabin can accommodate more than 33 fully prepared soldiers. It can accommodate 24 stretchers and is also utilised for medical evacuation.

Up to 35 soldiers can be accommodated in the Mi-17 helicopters. During natural catastrophes, both of these helicopters have been called upon to assist with relief and rescue efforts.