Indian Army's Cheetah Chopper Crashes, Both Pilots Killed
Two pilots were killed on Friday after a Cheetah helicopter belonging to the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) crashed in Bhutan.
"An Indian Army Helicopter crashed at 1 pm near Yongphulla in Bhutan. The helicopter went out of radio and visual contact soon after 1 pm. It was en-route from Khirmu (Arunanchal Pradesh) to Yongfulla on duty," Col Aman Anand, Indian Army Spokesperson said.
This accident is the second in the week- on September 25, a MiG-21 fighter jet belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed while on a routine training mission in the city of Gwalior, located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
The rotorcraft was carrying one pilot each from India and Bhutan. It was en-route from Khirmu (Arunanchal Pradesh, India) to Yongfulla (Bhutan) on duty when it crashed into a hill at around 1 pm, Indian media reported.
The sources told India Today TV that the incident took place when the Indian Army chopper was approaching Yongfulla for landing, but instead, it crashed into the nearby hill, Khentongmani. Both Indian and Bhutanese army officers were reportedly killed on the spot.
Col Aman Anand added that a ground search and rescue operation was launched from Yongfulla and the wreckage was located.
The chopper belonged to Indian Army's 667 Army Aviation Squadron based in Misamari in Assam. The chopper was returning after dropping an Indian Army Major General posted with Indian Army Military Training Team deployed in Bhutan, ET reported.
As a part of the arrangement between Indian and Bhutan, Bhutanese pilots have been training with the Indian Army since 2014-15.
The army operates a mix of about 150 Cheetahs and Chetaks. The Cheetahs play a crucial role in supporting the army on the Siachen glacier, one of the world’s highest battlefields, flying at more than 20,000 feet.
These were to be replaced by new choppers because the design of these helicopters is more than 50 years old. Their airworthiness is being questioned after a string of mishaps. Nine personnel were killed in six accidents involving these machines during 2012-15.
IAF MiG-21 Crashes, Pilots Safe
India’s Rustom-II Reconnaissance Drone Crashes During Flight Test
Su-25UB Fighter-bomber Crashes in Russia, Both Pilots Killed
IAF Su-30 Crashes, Pilots Safe
U.S. Approves $4.69 Billion Upgrade of Egypt’s M1A1 Abrams Tanks into M1A1SA...
American Hypersonic Missiles in Sight as Russia Forms First S-500 Air Defense...
Houthi Missile Hits Israel’s Tel Aviv, 16 Injured
Poland Orders Four Reconnaissance Microsatellites
Russian Su-57 and Chinese J-20 as Alternatives to the American F-35 Stealth Fighter
As the Russian Su-57 stealth fighter jet enters serial production, the debate over how it stacks up against the American...
NATO’s Intensified Exercises a Prep to Attack Russia?
Recent NATO exercises such as the BALTOPS-24, Steadfast Defender 2024 and its first-ever Basic Fighter Maneuvers exercise have been its...
Precision in the Skies: The Evolution of Loitering Munitions
Loitering munitions - drones that hover over a target and blow up near it - have become the weapon of...
Is the Patriot Air Defense System Outdated?
After Israel revealed its decision to decommission its U
Russia's Growing Influence in Africa: Arms Sales and Military Bases
Russia's expanding influence in Africa, demonstrated by arms sales, military deployments, and diplomatic engagements, reflects a significant geopolitical shift on...