SRINAGAR: An aviation technician was killed, and two pilots were injured after an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv with three people on board crashed following a “hard landing” in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday.
“At around 11.15 am, an Army Aviation ALH Dhruv helicopter on an operational mission made a precautionary landing on the banks of the Marua River in the Kishtwar region of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Udhampur-based Northern Command said in a statement.
According to initial reports, the pilots had reported a technical fault to the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and proceeded for a precautionary landing.
“Due to the undulating ground, undergrowth, and unprepared landing area, the helicopter apparently made a ‘hard landing’,” the officials said, adding that immediate rescue operations were launched, and Army rescue teams reached the site.
“Two pilots and a technician were on board. All three injured personnel have been evacuated to the Command Hospital, Udhampur,” the official said.
The officials further added that aviation technician CFN (Avn Tech) Pabballa Anil succumbed to injuries during treatment.
“(Avn Tech) Pabballa Anil, 30, belongs to Village Malkapur, Rajanna Sircilla, Telangana,” the officer added.
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Army Commander Northern Command, and All Ranks Northern Command offer tribute to the supreme sacrifice of CFN (Avn Tech) Pabballa Anil in the line of duty during Operational flying of ALH MK III near Kishtwar, Jammu, and Kashmir.
A court of inquiry has been ordered, and further details are being ascertained, the Army said in a statement. (KNO)
