Indian Army's Cheetah Helicopter Crashes In Ladakh, 3 Officers Including A Major General Escape Death Miraculously; Photos
· Free Press Journal
Leh: Three Indian Army officers narrowly escaped death after a Cheetah helicopter crashed in the high-altitude Tangste area near Leh in Ladakh, officials confirmed on Saturday. All three occupants survived with minor injuries in what officials described as a 'miracle' given the difficult mountainous terrain where the aircraft went down.
IA Cheetah crashed in Tangste region near Leh on 20 May. 3 officers including a Maj Gen lucky to survive. 1960s platforms still being used, as our Maharatna PSU can’t keep timelines on LUH. Are they installing GE-404 on LUH too? pic.twitter.com/caiXqO7cCc
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— sajan (@sajaniaf) May 23, 2026
Cheetah Helicopter down!
— SSBCrack (@SSBCrack) May 23, 2026
Indian Army officers walk away from a life-threatening crash, flash smiles, snap selfies at the wreckage, and say they’re ready for duty again.
This is next-level composure and courage!
True warriors.
Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/UyRPGx03k6
Photos of the crashed helicopter in the hilly terrain have surfaced on the internet. The pictures show the tail of the helicopter completely destroyed. All three of the Army officers can be seen resting beside the crashed helicopter.
An Indian Army Cheetah light helicopter met with an accident on May 20 in the Ladakh sector. The two pilots and Division Commander Major General Sachin Mehta suffered injuries in the accident but are safe and stable. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the incident to… pic.twitter.com/1nwl8128Ji
— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2026
The crash reportedly took place on Wednesday, though details of the incident emerged publicly only on Saturday. According to officials, the single-engine helicopter was being piloted by a lieutenant colonel and a major, while the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 3rd Infantry Division was travelling onboard as a passenger.
Army officials said rescue and evacuation operations were carried out immediately after the crash. Despite the severity of the incident, all three officers escaped with only minor injuries. An investigation has now been launched to ascertain the exact cause of the crash, as reported by ETV Bharat.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters that continue to be extensively used by the Indian armed forces in challenging terrains such as Ladakh and the Siachen Glacier.
IAF Cheetah Airlifts 85-Year-Old Paralysed Woman From Snowbound Himachal's Dhanderwari Village| VIDEOMore than 15 such helicopters have reportedly crashed over the past decade, resulting in multiple fatalities among pilots and defence personnel. Despite repeated incidents, officials maintain that the existing helicopters remain airworthy and continue to play a crucial role in supplying remote forward posts and carrying out high-altitude operations.