An Indian Air Force (IAF) Apache attack helicopter was involved in an emergency landing incident near Pathankot, Punjab on Friday, June 13, 2025. This marks the second such incident involving an IAF helicopter within a week. The Apache helicopter, identified as M17, executed a safe precautionary landing, and fortunately, there was no damage to the aircraft and the crew members are safe.

The incident occurred in Haled village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Nangalpur Police Station in Pathankot district, near the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border. According to initial reports, the helicopter, which had taken off from the Pathankot Air Force Station, experienced technical difficulties that prompted the emergency landing in an open field.

IAF technical teams are expected to conduct a thorough examination of the Apache helicopter at the landing site to ascertain the precise cause of the emergency landing. A detailed inquiry is likely to follow to investigate the matter further. No official statement has been released by the Air Force or district administration regarding the cause of the emergency landing. Senior officers present at the site refused to comment, citing operational and security protocols. Authorities have assured that there was no threat to public safety or infrastructure.

This incident follows a similar occurrence on June 6, 2025, when another Apache helicopter made an emergency landing in a field near Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, due to a technical snag detected by the pilots during a training sortie. Furthermore, in April of the previous year, an Apache helicopter sustained significant damage during a hard landing near Khardung La in Ladakh while undertaking an operational sortie.

The Indian Air Force inducted 22 Boeing-manufactured Apache helicopters between 2019 and 2020 as part of a ₹13,952 crore deal with the United States, signed in September 2015. The Apache AH-64E is a highly advanced attack helicopter equipped with a 30mm M230 chain gun, Hydra 70 rockets, and Hellfire missiles. It is designed for precision strikes in all weather conditions and is equipped with night vision and a target acquisition system, making it valuable for both planned operations and high-altitude missions. The IAF has deployed these helicopters for ground assistance and border security at the Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC).

These incidents underscore the importance of rigorous maintenance checks, crew training, and transparent reporting to ensure safety and operational readiness within the Indian Air Force, especially as India continues to upgrade and expand its air fleet.