An Indian Army Cheetah light helicopter crashed in the Ladakh sector on May 20, injuring two pilots along with Division Commander Major General Sachin Mehta, according to Army officials. Officials said all three personnel sustained injuries in the accident but are currently safe and in stable condition. The Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the crash.

The helicopter involved was a Cheetah light utility aircraft, which is regularly used by the Indian Army for operations in high-altitude and remote regions such as Ladakh and the Siachen Glacier. Authorities have not yet released detailed information about the circumstances that led to the accident. Following the incident, a selfie reportedly taken by Major General Sachin Mehta after the crash surfaced online and quickly went viral across social media platforms, drawing widespread reactions from users.

The latest crash has once again raised questions about the safety of the ageing Cheetah helicopter fleet, which has been serving the Indian Armed Forces since the 1970s. Over the years, the helicopters have been involved in multiple accidents, some of which resulted in the deaths of Army personnel and pilots.

Despite concerns over safety, the helicopters have played a major role in military operations in difficult mountainous terrains. They were notably used during Operation Meghdoot in 1984, when Indian troops secured strategic positions in the Siachen Glacier region. The Indian Army is now gradually replacing the ageing fleet with the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Reports suggest the Army has already ordered six limited-series-production LUHs, which can reach speeds of up to 220 kmph and operate in extreme high-altitude conditions.