Technical snag forces emergency landing of IAF chopper

New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) A technical snag forced an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter to make an emergency landing at the Bamrauli air base near Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh Friday morning. No casualty or damage to property was reported, an IAF officer said.

The Chetak helicopter was on a routine sortie from the Bamrauli base, but had to make the emergency landing as a precaution due to a technical defect observed by the pilot, the officer told IANS from Allahabad.

The incident took place around 8 a.m. Soon after the pilot, who was not identified, reported an emergency, the air force rushed a rescue team to the spot.

'There are no injuries to the air crew or anybody on the ground, nor any damage to civilian property,' the officer said.

The helicopter, he said, would be flown from the air base later in the day after the defect is rectified.

The Chetak is a multi-role, seven-seater version of the French Alouette-III and is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.