According to a statement, the rescue took place on Tuesday within hours of the US Embassy sending a request to the IAF to help in locating and rescuing Margaret Allen Stone. Stone had gone for trekking to Ladakh and had been held up in Zhingchan area, 75 km from Leh, since September 6 due to injury. Her condition had deteriorated during this prolonged period for lack of care and she was in a critical condition.