Three Army officers, including a Major General, were injured after their Cheetah light-utility helicopter crashed in the mountainous Tangste region near Leh, according to official sources. The incident occurred on Wednesday but was reported on Friday.
According to sources, a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major were piloting the single-engine Cheetah helicopter, while the passenger was Major General Sachin Mehta, General Officer Commanding of the 3rd Infantry Division.
The Cheetah, a variant of the French Alouette III manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is widely used by the Indian Army for high-altitude operations in challenging terrains like Ladakh and Siachen due to its robust performance in thin air and extreme weather conditions.
All three officers had a miraculous escape despite the crash. Officials said the occupants suffered only minor injuries, describing the outcome as “no less than a miracle”. A detailed probe into the cause of the crash is underway.
The Indian Army has been trying to phase out the Cheetah and its sibling, the Chetak, for years. The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is intended as their eventual replacement, with limited series production expected to begin in 2026.
However, the process has been slow, and the Cheetah fleet continues to shoulder a heavy operational burden in forward areas.
While the Cheetah is legendary for its high-altitude performance and still holds several world records, its ageing design and the challenging operating environment have resulted in one of the higher accident rates among Indian military helicopters.
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