Kolkata, 7 May (H.S.): A Chetak helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) made a precautionary landing in an open field near Thakurnagar in Dabgram-II block, close to Siliguri, on Tuesday. The incident caused a temporary state of confusion and alarm among local residents, though no damage or injury was reported, and the IAF later confirmed it was a routine technical measure.
The helicopter had taken off from the Salugara military base on a regular patrol mission, tasked with aerial surveillance of the strategically important underground pipeline of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) that passes through the region.
According to IAF sources, while returning to base, the pilot observed a warning signal in the cockpit and decided to carry out a precautionary landing in a vacant agricultural field. The sight of a military helicopter landing unexpectedly led to a gathering of onlookers, with some residents initially fearing a possible cross-border intrusion. However, no one approached the aircraft, and the local police were promptly informed.
Teams from the IAF’s Salugara and Bagdogra airbases were dispatched immediately to the site. Law enforcement officers managed the crowd and explained the situation, helping to restore calm. IAF technical experts conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft and deemed it fit for flight, after which it was safely flown back to the Salugara base.
IAF officials emphasized that the landing was not an emergency, but a preventive action taken in line with standard safety protocols. “Such precautionary landings are part of regular operations and should not be a cause for panic,” an official said.
The incident occurred amid a heightened security climate in the country, especially after the April 22 massacre of 26 tourists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadows, which has led to increased military readiness and security drills. On Wednesday, West Bengal is scheduled to conduct mock drills at 30 locations, including the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’, which connects mainland India to its northeastern states.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
