Tech snag led to Leh chopper crash: Officials

A technical failure leading to engine power loss caused an Indian Army Cheetah helicopter to crash in the mountainous Tangtse area near Leh on May 20, according to officials familiar with the initial investigation.

The two pilots and Major General Sachin Mehta, General Officer Commanding of the Karu-based 3 Infantry Division, survived the incident with minor injuries. A court of inquiry has been ordered by the army to determine the exact cause of the crash and is expected to submit its findings within two months.

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A technical failure killed the engine. Weather conditions were good at the time of the crash. The helicopters are being cleared to fly after precautionary engine checks.

Despite the crash, the Cheetah fleet has not been grounded and continues its frontline duties in the sensitive Ladakh sector. Officials stated that the helicopters are cleared to fly after precautionary engine checks, as the cause of the accident is understood to be a specific technical issue rather than a systemic problem. The crashed helicopter was a re-engined variant, known as the Cheetal.

This incident has once again highlighted the urgent need to replace the aging Cheetah and Chetak fleets, which were designed in the 1960s. The army plans to phase out these helicopters within the next year or two and introduce new light utility helicopters (LUHs) over the following eight to ten years. This modernization effort includes inducting locally produced LUHs and leasing interim choppers to meet immediate requirements, aiming for a total of around 250 new helicopters.

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The army will begin phasing out its ageing fleets in a year or two, and replace them with new light utility helicopters (LUHs) over the next eight to 10 years, as part of the Army Aviation Corps’ drive to modernise its capabilities.