Ladakh Helicopter Crash
New Delhi: A Cheetah light helicopter operated by the Army helicopter crash Ladakh sector on May 20, leaving three senior personnel injured, including Major General Sachin Mehta. The incident was confirmed by Army officials on Saturday.
The Indian Army helicopter crash in Ladakh consisted of a Cheetah helicopter carrying a Lieutenant Colonel, a Major and Major General Mehta, the General Officer Commanding of the 3rd Infantry Division. All the three officers were injured in Army helicopter crash Ladakh incident but were immediately evacuated for medical treatment. The officers are in stable condition following a Cheetah helicopter crash, officials confirmed.
Army sources said the Cheetah helicopter crash involved a single-engine helicopter flown by a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major on a routine operational mission in the high-altitude Ladakh region. The Indian Army helicopter crash took place when the chopper was on operational duties in difficult terrain.
Following the Army helicopter crash Ladakh incident, the Indian Army has ordered a formal Court of Inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of the accident. Investigations are ongoing and further details are being examined, officials said.
The crash of a Cheetah helicopter has once again brought into focus the Indian Army’s ageing fleet in high-altitude regions. The helicopters have been in service since the 1970s and have had a number of accidents over the years.
The fleet still remains crucial for challenging terrains like Ladakh and Siachen where the Cheetah has proven its mettle to operate at high altitudes, even during Operation Meghdoot. However, safety issues related to the Cheetah have cropped up from time to time.
In the wake of the recent Indian Army helicopter crash, the Army is pushing ahead with its efforts to replace the aging Cheetah fleet with indigenous Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The change is intended to improve operational safety and to modernize high altitude aviation capabilities.
Ladakh incident: Authorities also likely to review operational protocols as part of investigation into Army helicopter crash.
