New Delhi: Two pilots one from Indian Army and the other from Royal Bhutan Army died in a helicopter crash in Bhutan on Friday.
The single-engine Cheetah Helicopter of the Indian Army was on duty en-route from Khirmu (Arunanchal Pradesh) to Yongphulla (Bhutan) where it crashed. According to Indian Army sources, the Indian Army pilot who died in the crash was of Lieutenant-Colonel rank while the Bhutanese Army pilot was training with the Indian Army.
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.
Also read: The only woman warrior in Kargil War flew her Cheetah helicopter without fear
As a part of the arrangement between Indian and Bhutan, Bhutanese pilots have been training with the Indian Army since 2014-15.
“In an unfortunate incident, an Indian Army Helicopter has crashed at 1 pm near Yongphulla in Bhutan. The helicopter went out of radio and visual contact soon after 1 pm. The helicopter was on way from Khirmu (Arunanchal) to Yongphulla on duty,” said Army Spokesperson Colonel Aman Anand.
“Ground search and rescue were launched immediately from Yongphulla. The wreckage has been located,” he said
Cheetahs are 1960 vintage planes which have been in the Indian Army for the last over 40 years and several attempts to replace them have failed due to one reason or the other.