IAF chopper crash lands in flood waters of Bihar

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter, conducting vital air-dropping operations for flood relief in Bihar, made a forced landing on Wednesday afternoon in Naya Gaon, located in Muzaffarpur's Aurai division. The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)-Dhruv, which had taken off from the Darbhanga Air Force Base, encountered an engine failure while distributing essential food packets and other relief materials to flood-affected areas. The pilot managed to execute a precautionary landing in a shallow water-logged area, preventing what could have been a major accident. Fortunately, a portion of the helicopter became submerged, but all four IAF personnel aboard, including two officers, were safely rescued.

Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management Department, Pratyaya Amrit, commended the pilot’s quick thinking and skillful maneuvering. He stated that the pilot's presence of mind allowed for a safe landing in an area devoid of people, thereby averting a potential disaster. Following the incident, the local State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was promptly notified and began rescue operations. Remarkably, local residents were the first responders, helping to extricate the occupants from the helicopter before official rescue teams arrived. After the rescue, the personnel were transported to a nearby hospital for precautionary medical checks, though they were reported to be unharmed.

The helicopter involved in this incident is part of the IAF's fleet of Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH)-Dhruv, which are extensively used by the Indian Armed Forces, including the Army and the Navy. The ALH fleet has faced scrutiny in recent months, with grounding orders issued due to technical concerns regarding certain components, raising questions about the safety of these aircraft in high-stakes situations like disaster relief.

This incident comes amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Bihar, where relentless flooding has impacted over 1.1 million people, leading to widespread displacement and disruption of essential services. The IAF has been actively involved in delivering food packets, medicines, and other essential supplies to those in need, benefiting more than 200,000 individuals across Sitamarhi and Darbhanga districts.