India

Pilot killed, another injured as Indian army helicopter crashes near China border

Indian Army's HAL Cheetah at Leh air base. [Photo: Wikimedia]

New Delhi: An Army Aviation pilot was killed and another sustained injuries after a Cheetah helicopter on a routine sortie in the forward area near Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang, one of India’s last points before China, officials said.

As per India’s defense spokesperson in Tezpur, “Both the pilots were evacuated to the nearest Military Hospital. With regret we inform that one of the pilots who was critically injured succumbed to the injuries during treatment.” The second pilot is under medical treatment, he added.

The cause of the crash at this stage is not known and the details are being ascertained, the spokesperson added.

Quoting civil administration officials, a report by the Times of India said the site of the incident is Nyamjang Chu near Bap Teng Kang waterfall area of Jemeithang circle in Tawang district. The Cheetah helicopter with two pilots was coming from Surwa Samba area on a routine sortie.

Over 40 people including former chief minister Dorjee Khandu have been killed in six helicopter crashes in Arunachal Pradesh since 2010, Hindustan Times reported.

 

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