Army officers survive Leh chopper crash, selfie goes viral, inquiry launched
Three senior Indian Army officers escape with minor injuries after a Cheetah helicopter crashes near Leh, Ladakh; a post‑crash selfie fuels online buzz and prompts a court of inquiry.
An ageing Cheetah helicopter went down in Tangtse, Leh on May 20. Officers survived, posted a selfie, and the army has opened an inquiry.
Leh, Ladakh, Army helicopter crash, Cheetah fleet, Tangtse, military inquiry, selfie viral, high‑altitude operations, Indian Army, aviation safety
The incident happened on May 20, in the rugged Tangtse sector near Leh, Ladakh. An ageing Cheetah helicopter, part of the Army’s long‑servicing fleet, suddenly dropped.
Inside were a lieutenant colonel, a major and a senior army officer. All three walked away with minor injuries, officials said. Nothing fatal, but the crash drew immediate attention.
After they got out, one of the officers took a selfie. The picture showed them smiling, a bit surreal given the situation. That snap spread fast online, sparking a wave of comments and shares.
The army didn’t give a cause right away. Instead, it announced a court of inquiry to dig into why the aircraft went down. No details on the probe yet, just the standard procedural step.
This isn’t the first time the Cheetah fleet has been under the microscope. The helicopters are old, used for logistics and reconnaissance at high altitude. Over the years, safety concerns have cropped up, especially in the Himalayas where weather and thin air add stress.
Previous crashes in mountainous zones have already fuelled calls for faster modernisation of the fleet. The current episode, with the viral selfie, has revived that debate, though no official comment on replacement plans was made.
So, three officers survived, a selfie went viral, and a formal inquiry is now underway. The story is still developing, and the army’s findings will likely shape future decisions on the ageing fleet.