After discovering that the CH-47 Chinook helicopter was susceptible to engine fires, the US Army grounded its entire fleet of the aircraft. Additionally, a fleet of Chinook Helicopters are deployed by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Around 400 Chinook helicopters, which are medium-lift, multi-role aircraft made by Boeing, are used by the US Army to support various military activities. According to The Wall Street Journal, the US Army has grounded the Chinook fleet because it’s possible that a small number of helicopters experienced engine fires. According to the same article, even though there have been no injuries as a result of these fires, it was decided to halt the helicopters as a precaution.
Boeing has not yet responded to the situation, but according to The Wall Street Journal, there is a problem with the Honeywell International Inc. engine. O-rings, one of the engine’s components, were reportedly not up to design standards, according to a company spokeswoman.
While it waits for additional information on the US development, the IAF has not grounded its fleet of 15 Chinook helicopters.
According to reports, the IAF asked the US for more details concerning the US Army’s grounding of the helicopters. In 2019, a ceremony held in Chandigarh saw the induction of the Chinooks into the IAF. The Chandigarh Helicopter Unit of the Chinooks has one base, and the Mohanbari Air Base in Assam has the other.