Three days after An Army Cheetah helicopter carrying senior officers has crashed in Ladakh, and a selfie of an Army major who survived the accident has emerged with his colleagues.
The accident occurred on May 20 when a Cheetah helicopter with three army officers on board crashed in the mountainous Tangste district near Leh. Although this happened on Wednesday, details emerged on Friday.
A selfie has now emerged showing injured Major General Sachin Mehta standing next to the wreckage while one of the pilots flashes the ‘victory’ sign.
Crash in high area
The incident reportedly occurred on May 20 in the mountainous Tangasti region near Leh, near Leh district. Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The single-engine Army helicopter ‘Cheetah’ was carrying General Sachin Mehta, Commanding General of the 3rd Infantry Division, along with two pilots, a lieutenant colonel and a major, when it crashed.
Officials said the three passengers escaped with minor injuries and are safe and stable. They described the survival of all those on board as ““Nothing short of a miracle,” given the difficult terrain and high-altitude flying conditions in the region.
The three escape with minor injuries
Army aviation operations in eastern Ladakh are particularly challenging due to steep, mountainous terrain, unpredictable weather and thin air at high altitudes, officials said. the The Cheetah helicopter is frequently used for transport, reconnaissance and logistics missions in forward areas along the Line of Actual Control.
The Indian Army is also planning to phase out its aging fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters in the coming years and replace them with ultralight helicopters (LUH) as part of a broader modernization drive, officials said.
The Army plans to phase out the Cheetah and Cheetah fleet
The Army is expected to need about 250 new helicopters and is pursuing a two-pronged strategy that includes fielding domestically produced LUHs and leasing similar aircraft as a temporary replacement for critical operational needs.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which has been licensed to produce hundreds of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters for the armed forces, is now focusing on maintenance and renewal of the aging fleet.
Officials said the existing fleet remains airworthy for now but is under scrutiny due to a series of accidents in recent years. More than 15 Cheetah and Cheetak helicopters have crashed in the past decade, raising concerns about safety in high-altitude operations, even as these aircraft continue to serve as a crucial lifeline for troops in remote Himalayan regions, including Siachen.
