An Indian Army Cheetah helicopter has crashed near the Mandala hills area of Arunachal Pradesh, as confirmed by army sources. The helicopter was carrying a pilot and a co-pilot who are currently missing, and a search operation is underway to locate and rescue them.
According to reports, the Cheetah helicopter went missing earlier this morning while it was moving from Senge to Missamari. It lost contact with the air traffic control (ATC) at around 09:15 AM today.
In a press release, the army stated, “An Army Aviation Cheetah helicopter flying an operational sortie near Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh was reported to have lost contact with the ATC at around 09:15 AM on 16 March 23. It is reported to have crashed near Mandala, West of Bomdila. Search parties have been launched.”
The crash site is reportedly in a remote and difficult terrain, making the rescue operation challenging. Nevertheless, the army has deployed search parties and is using all available resources to locate the missing pilots.
The Cheetah helicopter is an important part of the Indian Army’s aviation fleet and is primarily used for reconnaissance and surveillance missions in difficult terrains. The cause of the crash is not yet known, and further details are awaited.
This incident highlights the risks and challenges that the Indian Army faces in its operations in the difficult terrain of Arunachal Pradesh. The army’s commitment to conducting search and rescue operations under challenging circumstances is commendable and underscores their dedication to ensuring the safety of their personnel.