Amritsar, June 14 -- An Apache helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) made a precautionary landing at Haler village in the border district of Pathankot on Friday. The chopper has now returned to the base after the authorities conducted technical checks, IAF officials said. The pilot and co-pilot were safe and there was no casualty or damage in the village that falls under the Nangal Bhur police station's jurisdiction. Sources said that the chopper had taken off from the local IAF station on a routine sortie when the pilot experienced technical difficulty and decided to undertake a precautionary landing in an open ground of the village. Residents of the village gathered at the site on seeing the helicopter descending. The area was swiftly cordoned off by security personnel. The incident comes after another IAF Apache helicopter made a precautionary landing in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur on June 6 due to a technical issue while on a routine sortie. In April, the Chetak helicopter made a precautionary landing near Jamnagar during a routine training mission, the IAF officials said. The Boeing AH-64 Apache is one of the most advanced and formidable attack helicopters globally. Originally developed by Hughes Helicopters in the 1970s and later produced by McDonnell Douglas and Boeing, the Apache is celebrated for its firepower, agility, and battlefield survivability. Equipped with a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision, the helicopter can operate effectively in both day and night, as well as in adverse weather conditions. Its primary armament includes a 30mm M230 chain gun, Hellfire anti-tank missiles, and Hydra 70 rocket pods, making it a versatile platform capable of engaging ground vehicles, fortifications, and enemy troops. India is one of the 17 countries to have chosen the Apache helicopter, specifically operating the highly advanced AH-64E variant. This model is also utilised by the United States and several other nations around the globe. The Indian Air Force has a fleet of 22 AH-64Es, inducted between 2019 and 2021, according to reports. In September 2015, the Ministry of defence completed its agreement with Boeing for the production, training, and support of 22 AH-64E Apache helicopters. The Indian Air Force has deployed 22 Apache helicopters in Pathankot and Jorhat, demonstrating their effectiveness through operations in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China....