The Indian Air Force’s AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter has been stuck in the high mountains of Ladakh near the China border for four months. On April 4 this year, due to high altitude and difficult conditions, this helicopter had some technical problem. Due to this, an emergency landing had to be made. Both the pilots came out safely.
Since then, the helicopter is stuck at an altitude of about 12 thousand feet near Khardung La pass. The maximum height of this pass is 18,380 feet. It is being told that the helicopter was not able to generate power, due to which its emergency landing was done. This helicopter is called ‘air tank’.
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In the two months around April this year, there were five incidents of Apache helicopter malfunctioning across the world. Indian Air Force is facing one of them. This helicopter has been operational in many countries for four decades, but is now facing technical problems. The helicopter which is stuck at Khardung La pass was going to Siachen Glacier.
AH-64 Apache attack helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been stranded in the high-altitude Ladakh region near the China border for four months.
— The helicopter experienced a ‘loss of power’ due to undulating terrain and high altitude, resulting in damage during the… pic.twitter.com/GlZFYboWKi
— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 23, 2024
There are two ways to save it…
It should be lifted by Russian Mi-26 super heavy lift helicopters. But now they have been grounded. It can be suspended by American Chinook heavy lift helicopters and transported to the base. But the environment of Ladakh and the difficult geographical conditions of the Himalayas do not allow this to be done. Because at such a height, the engine and weight lifting capacity of even the most powerful aircrafts becomes weak.
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The second option is to dismantle this Apache helicopter where it is stuck. That is, it should be dismantled there and its parts should be brought down to the base via helicopter. This seems more likely. It will take more time but it is safer.
It has been 4 months since @IAF_MCC‘s @Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter got stranded in the high-altitude #Ladakh region near the #China border.#IndianAirForce is struggling to get it back.
— EurAsian Times (@THEEURASIATIMES) August 21, 2024
Many incidents 44 days before the IAF incident
44 days before the Indian Air Force’s Apache helicopter got stuck in Ladakh, four such incidents took place in the US. February 12, February 23. The pilots were killed in both the incidents. Emergency landing on March 24 and March 26. The March 24 incident took place at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington. Both the pilots were seriously injured in this.