JOIN USCHENNAI, DHNS: An Indian Army helicopter on its way to Chennai from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), in Bengaluru, with four people on board made an emergency landing at an open field in Vellore district after it developed a technical snag.
The helicopter- IA 2123 - made an emergency landing in an open field in Kulithigai near Madhanur, 35 km from Vellore, after the pilot spotted an open barren land.
Sources in the Defence Ministry said the aircraft was ferrying four persons, including Lieutenant Colonel Akshay Khalia and Major Puneet, and was on its way to participate in the DEFCOM to be held in Thiruvidanthai on the outskirts of Chennai from April 11 to 14.
"The chopper developed engine problems when it was flying towards Vellore and the pilot was looking for an open barren land to land the helicopter. He made a safe landing in an open field in Kulithigai at around 1 pm," a senior ministry official said.
Within hours, another helicopter carrying necessary spares and recovery support landed to rectify the technical snag. "The snag was rectified in couple of hours and both helicopters took off to their destination in the evening," a senior district police official said.