Army officers escape death after Cheetah helicopter crashes near Leh in Ladakh
PTC Web Desk: Three Indian Army officers had a lucky escape after a HAL Cheetah helicopter crashed in Ladakh’s Tangste area near Leh earlier this week. Officials confirmed the incident on Saturday and said all officers on board survived with minor injuries.
The crash took place on May 20 during an operation in the high-altitude region. The helicopter was being flown by a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major. Major General Sachin Mehta, who heads the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, was travelling in the helicopter as a passenger.
Officials said the officers suffered only minor injuries despite the difficult terrain where the helicopter went down.
Soon after the accident, a selfie reportedly taken by Major General Mehta from the crash site started circulating on social media. Many users called the survival of the officers nothing short of a miracle, considering the harsh weather and mountainous conditions in the area.
The Army has ordered an inquiry to find out what caused the crash.
The incident has once again raised questions about the ageing fleet of Cheetah helicopters, which have been in service for several decades.
The single-engine helicopters have been widely used by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force for transporting supplies, carrying out surveillance missions and evacuating injured personnel in difficult areas such as Siachen and other Himalayan sectors.
The Cheetah helicopters also played an important role during Operation Meghdoot in 1984, when Indian forces secured strategic positions in the Siachen Glacier region.
Over the years, however, the fleet has been involved in several crashes and emergency landings, leading to repeated concerns over safety and maintenance issues.
- With inputs from agencies
