Amid US grounding, IAFs Chinooks helicopters operating as usual

TIL Desk/World/Washington/ The Chinook helicopters of the Indian Air Force are operating as usual notwithstanding the United States Army grounding the entire fleet of the heavy-lift choppers over fuel leaks that caused a “small number” of engine fires.

People familiar with the development said on Wednesday the IAF headquarters has sent a communication to Boeing India following reports of the grounding of the Chinook CH-47 helicopters by the United States Army.

It is learnt that Boeing India has communicated to the IAF that the Chinook CH-47F(I) helicopters being operated by the force are not at all impacted by the problem that has hit the US Army fleet. The IAF is operating 15 Chinooks at present.

“The Chinook fleet of the IAF is operating as usual,” said one of the people cited. There was no comment on the matter by either the IAF or Boeing India. An US Army spokesperson said the force grounded the entire fleet of its Chinook helicopters after a small number of engine fires were reported due to a fuel leak, according to a media report.