New Delhi, Apr 30 (IANS): An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft experienced a tyre deflation just before take off from the Palam Air Base here on Thursday, a statement said.

The force said that a Dornier aircraft was to undertake routine flight from Palam Air Base. "During the take off roll, aircraft experienced a tyre deflation. The captain of the aircraft took prompt and correct actions of aborting the take off," the IAF said in a statement.

The aircraft and crew on board are safe and there has been no damage to any property. The aircraft was towed off runway by the technical crew of the IAF promptly.

Ealier this month, an IAF Apache helicopter made an emergency landing on a field in Punjab's Hoshiarpur. The helicopter took off from Pathankot base but due to some technical glitch, it had to land in the Budhwar village fields.

"On April 17, an Apache helicopter of the IAF got airborne from Pathankot airbase. The helicopter, after approx 1 hour of flying had indications of a critical failure and carried out a safe landing in Punjab," IAF had said in a statement.

The force said the captain of the aircraft took correct and prompt actions to recover the helicopter.

The incident was not an aberration. In the same week, an IAF helicopter made an emergency landing on an expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat while it was on its way to supplying Covid-19 test samples of Leh to Chandigarh.

The IAF Cheetah chopper made an emergency landing on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Baghpat district. The IAF said that the actions taken by the pilots were prompt and correct. "No damage to any property has been reported," it had said.

The IAF aircraft have been pressed into services in the fight against spread of coronavirus in India.