An Indian Army Cheetah light helicopter crashed in the Ladakh sector on May 20, leaving three Army personnel injured, including Division Commander Major General Sachin Mehta. According to Army officials, the two pilots and Major General Mehta sustained injuries in the accident. All three were evacuated and are reported to be safe and stable. The Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry to determine the cause of the helicopter crash. Further details about the circumstances leading to the accident are awaited.
The Cheetah helicopter is commonly used by the Indian Army for transport and operational duties in high-altitude areas such as Ladakh.
The accident took place on May 20, but details of the incident were officially confirmed on Saturday. The helicopter was carrying a Lieutenant Colonel, a Major and Major General Sachin Mehta, who currently serves as the General Officer Commanding of the 3rd Infantry Division. All three officers suffered injuries in the crash.
Pilots were flying ageing Cheetah helicopter
Army officials said the single-engine Cheetah helicopter was being piloted by the Lieutenant Colonel and the Major at the time of the crash. An official Court of Inquiry has now been ordered to determine what led to the accident.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the ageing Cheetah helicopter fleet, which has remained in service since the 1970s and has been involved in several crashes over the years. Despite safety concerns, the Cheetah helicopters are known for their ability to operate in extremely high-altitude regions and have played a major role in military operations, including Operation Meghdoot in the Siachen Glacier in 1984.
The five-seater helicopters are often regarded as among the best high-altitude utility choppers in the world. However, repeated accidents involving the fleet have led to growing calls for faster replacement.
Army gradually replacing Cheetah fleet
The Indian Army has already started phasing out the ageing helicopters and replacing them with indigenous Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
