An Indian Army Cheetah helicopter crashed in the remote Tangtse area of Ladakh’s Leh region on May 20, 2026. The aircraft carried a lieutenant colonel, a major, and Major General Sachin Mehta, the General Officer Commanding of the 3 Infantry Division. All three officers were injured but survived the crash, which the army officially confirmed on May 23. A selfie taken by Major General Mehta after the incident, showing the officers beside the wrecked helicopter, went viral on social media.
Following the crash, authorities formed an official inquiry committee to investigate the cause. The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of the Indian Army’s aging Cheetah helicopter fleet, which has been in service since the 1970s and has been involved in several accidents over the years. These helicopters have long been used in India’s high-altitude and remote operations, including the 1984 Operation Meghdoot in Siachen.
The army is gradually replacing the Cheetah fleet with domestically built Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, featuring improved speed, altitude capacity, and range.
আমার দেশ অনলাইন প্রকাশ : ২৩ মে ২০২৬, ১৯: ২১আপডেট : ২৩ মে ২০২৬, ১৯: ২৬ লাদাখের লেহ অঞ্চলের দুর্গম তাংস্তে এলাকায় ভারতীয় সেনাবাহিনীর একটি চিতা হেলিকপ্টার বিধ্বস্ত হলেও অল্পের জন্য প্রাণে বেঁচে গেছেন তিন সেনা কর্মকর্তা। দুর্ঘটনাটি ঘটে গত ২০ মে। আজ সকালে
The ‘1 Nojor’ media platform is now live in beta, inviting users to explore and provide feedback as we continue to refine the experience.
