Arunachal chopper crash: Both pilots killed, army orders probe

An Army Aviation Cheetah helicopter flying an operational sortie near Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh crashed. The wreckage of the aircraft was found and a Court of Inquiry is being ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.

A defence spokesperson said the helicopter lost contact with the ATC at around 09:15 AM on Thursday. “Five search parties of the Indian Army, SSB and ITBP were immediately launched. The wreckage of the aircraft was found near the village Banglajaap, East of Mandala.”

He said, “With regret we inform you that the pilot and the co-pilot of the helicopter lost their lives in the accident.A Court of Inquiry is being ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.


Lt Col VVB Reddy and Maj Jayanth A lost their lives.

In October last year an advanced light helicopter (ALH), carrying five Army personnel including two pilots crashed. On October 5, a pilot was killed after a Cheetah helicopter crashed during a routine sortie in the forward areas near Tawang.