LEH, May 23, 2026 : A senior Indian Army commander and two pilots were injured after an Indian Army Cheetah helicopter crashed in the high-altitude sector of Ladakh earlier this week, prompting the Army to order a formal investigation into the incident.
According to officials, the accident occurred on May 20 during a routine operational flight in the strategically sensitive Ladakh region.
The helicopter was carrying Division Commander Major General Sachin Mehta along with two Army pilots when the aircraft went down under circumstances that are now under investigation.
All three personnel onboard sustained injuries in the crash but survived the incident, officials said.
The Army helicopter involved in the mishap was a HAL Cheetah, a light utility aircraft widely used by the Indian Armed Forces for high-altitude logistics, reconnaissance and troop support operations in difficult terrains such as Ladakh and Siachen.
Officials said the ageing fleet of Cheetah helicopters has remained under technical scrutiny in recent years due to operational and maintenance concerns associated with prolonged service in extreme conditions.
To ascertain the exact cause of the crash, the Army has ordered a formal Court of Inquiry to investigate possible technical, mechanical and environmental factors behind the accident.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army on Friday also issued a clarification dismissing a viral press conference video circulating on media and social media platforms as “fake and misleading.”
In a post on X, the Army alleged that the video was part of a malicious propaganda campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of the force and spreading fabricated narratives.
The Army stated that the individuals featured in the viral clip — identified as Chandu Chavan, Harendra Yadav and P Narender — had previously been dismissed from service on grounds of indiscipline and unsoldierly conduct.
It further clarified that another individual, Shankar Singh Gujjar, is a deserter against whom disciplinary proceedings are underway in both military and civil courts.
“These individuals are deliberately spreading fake, malicious and misleading narratives on social media to divert attention from their own misconduct and dismissal from service,” the Army said.
The Army urged citizens to remain vigilant and not fall prey to misinformation and propaganda being circulated online.
The clarification came in response to a widely circulated press conference video featuring Sanjay Singh and Manoj Jha.
