Leh, May 23: A senior Indian Army commander and two pilots survived after an Army helicopter crashed in the high-altitude Ladakh sector on May 20, officials said.
The accident involved an Indian Army Cheetah helicopter that was on a routine flight in the strategically important region. The aircraft was carrying Division Commander Major General Sachin Mehta along with two pilots when it went down.
All three occupants sustained injuries in the crash, officials said.
The Cheetah helicopter, widely used by the armed forces for high-altitude logistics and reconnaissance missions, has remained under technical scrutiny because of its ageing fleet.
Following the incident, the Army ordered a formal Court of Inquiry to determine the technical, mechanical, or environmental factors behind the crash.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army on Friday termed a viral press conference video circulating on media and social media platforms as “fake and misleading,” alleging that it was part of a propaganda campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of the force.
In a statement posted on X, the Army said the individuals seen in the video — identified as Chandu Chavan, Harendra Yadav and P Narender — had earlier been dismissed from service on grounds of indiscipline and unsoldierly conduct.
The Army further said that another individual, Shankar Singh Gujjar, is a deserter and disciplinary proceedings are underway against him in both military and civil courts.
The Army urged people not to fall for misinformation and propaganda being spread through such content and advised citizens to remain vigilant.
The clarification came in response to a viral clip of a press conference addressed by Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh and Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha.
