An Indian Army Cheetah helicopter crashed in the mountainous Tangste region near Leh in Ladakh, leaving three army officers injured during the incident. Officials familiar with the matter said the accident took place on Wednesday, although details emerged publicly on Friday. All three occupants reportedly survived the crash and narrowly escaped a major tragedy in the high-altitude terrain.
The helicopter was being piloted by a lieutenant colonel and a major of the Indian Army. The passenger onboard was Major General Sachin Mehta, the General Officer Commanding of the 3 Infantry Division. Initial reports indicate that the officers sustained injuries but were rescued safely following the crash.
The Cheetah helicopter is widely used by the Indian Army for transport, reconnaissance, supply missions, and troop movement in difficult mountainous regions such as Ladakh and the Siachen sector. These helicopters regularly operate under extreme weather and challenging high-altitude conditions across northern India.
Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Military aviation incidents involving operations in mountainous terrain often require technical analysis alongside weather and operational assessments to identify contributing factors.