CoI ordered into Army Helicopter Crash in Leh

Leh, May 23: Three Army officers, including the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 3 Division, escaped with minor injuries after a Cheetah helicopter crashed near Tangtse in southeast Leh.

Official sources said the single-engine helicopter went down on Wednesday while being piloted by a lieutenant colonel and a major. The incident, however, came to light on Saturday.

All three occupants survived the crash with minor injuries. The Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry (CoI) to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Speaking on the challenges of flying in Ladakh’s high-altitude terrain, retired Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur said low air density in the region significantly reduces power reserves available to pilots, limiting operational margins during flight.

Bahadur, who earlier commanded the Leh-based 114 Helicopter Unit “Siachen Pioneers,” said the exact cause of the crash would be determined after completion of the inquiry.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns regarding the ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters operated by the Army. The helicopters are planned to be gradually phased out and replaced with the indigenously developed Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) as part of the Army Aviation Corps modernisation programme.