Pilots escape IAF copter crash just after takeoff

A Chetak helicopter of the Indian Air Force made an emergency landing at Ghauspur Kathauli village in Allahabad Wednesday morning after it developed a technical snag.

The two pilots ejected in time before the aircraft crashed in a field.

According to defence public relations officer Capt. B.B. Pande, the IAF Chetak helicopter took off from the Central Air Command headquarters at Bamrauli, 20 km from here, on a routine sortie with two pilots on board.

“Just after takeoff, it developed a technical failure following which the pilots tried to land it in the fields,” he said in a statement.

“The land was uneven and the helicopter toppled while landing; both pilots ejected safely,” he said.

An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident, Capt. Pande said.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has built over 300 units of Chetak under licence from the original manufacturer. The Chetak is being replaced by HAL Dhruv in the armed forces.

An option to re-engine the HAL Chetak with the Turbomeca TM 333-2B engine for high-altitude operations in the Himalayas was considered, but not pursued.

While the Chetak is lightweight utility helicopter, the Dhruv is a much heavier platform and also comes in a weaponised form.