Army orders probe into helicopter crash close to LAC

Srinagar: The Army has launched a probe into a helicopter crash in Ladakh on May 20, in which senior army commander Major General Sachin Mehta and two pilots were injured but survived.

The incident took place on May 20, near Shyok river near the Actual Line of Control in eastern Ladakh when the helicopter met with an accident during a routine flight. The helicopter was carrying three personnel, including Division Commander Major General Sachin Mehta, along with two pilots. All three occupants sustained injuries when the aircraft went down. The incident came to light when a selfie purportedly from the crash site was shared on social media.

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The army officials said that Cheetah helicopter, a staple of high-altitude logistics and reconnaissance for the Indian Armed Forces, has been the subject of ongoing technical scrutiny due to its ageing fleet.

They further said that the probe was ordered to determine exactly what went wrong. A Court of Inquiry has been officially ordered to investigate the technical, mechanical, or environmental factors that led to the accident.