a day ago
Army chopper's emergency landing delights Tinsukia locals
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Dibrugarh: An Indian Army Cheetah helicopter carrying four personnel made an emergency landing at a local playground in Tinsukia district on Tuesday morning after developing a technical malfunction during a routine sortie.
The aircraft, with two pilots and two Army officials aboard, was en route from the Dinjan-based military station in Dibrugarh to Anini in Arunachal Pradesh when it encountered a sudden technical snag at around 9:05am. The pilots safely landed the helicopter at the Dibrupariya Sports Association's playground in Kathalguri.
The unexpected touchdown turned an ordinary morning into a community spectacle. As word spread, scores of students and villagers gathered to witness the rare sight of a military helicopter parked in their neighbourhood.
What could have been a tense moment quickly transformed into a cheerful photo opportunity, with locals lining up to take selfies and group pictures against the unusual backdrop. Social media was soon flooded with images, turning the incident into a viral moment.
"We were just heading out when we heard the helicopter approaching. At first, we were worried something serious had happened, but the crew remained calm and professional.
They assured us it was a minor technical issue and would be resolved soon. They were very kind and even posed for pictures with the children," said Annadeep Moran, a local resident who witnessed the landing.
After nearly 50 minutes of on-site repairs, the issue was resolved, and the helicopter resumed its journey without further incident. While the Army has not released an official statement regarding the malfunction, sources said it was a minor glitch that was promptly fixed.
The Cheetah helicopter, a light utility aircraft commonly used by the Indian Armed Forces, has long been a reliable workhorse in the northeastern region, often operating in difficult terrain and unpredictable weather conditions.
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