New Delhi: Three Indian Army officers had a narrow escape when their helicopter crashed in the mountainous Tangste near Leh in Ladakh.A Major General, a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major survived the crash but sustained injuries when the Cheetah helicopter fell down. “The helicopter crashed on May 20. All three officers are safe. An inquiry has been ordered,” officials familiar with the matter told TOI.An officer’s selfie after the May 20 accident has now gone viral. All three came out of the debris on their own. The single-engine HAL Cheetah helicopter was piloted by a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, while Major General Sachin Mehta, who commands the 3 Infantry Division, was on board as a passenger.The accident occurred while flying in the high altitude area of ​​Ladakh. The specific cause of the incident is still under investigation.Cheetah helicopters, inducted into service in 1976, have been a vital asset for the Indian Army, especially in high altitude and forward areas such as the Siachen Glacier. The Cheetah, which is vital for the armed forces for high-altitude logistics and reconnaissance missions, has been the subject of ongoing technical scrutiny due to its aging fleet.Over the past decade or so, more than 15 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters have been involved in accidents, resulting in the loss of many pilots’ lives.Due to these security issues, the Army plans to phase out the old Cheetah and Chetak helicopters within the next 1 to 2 years, to be gradually replaced by new generation Light Utility Helicopters (LUHs) over a period of 8 to 10 years.Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is playing a key role in this transformation. The Army has already placed orders for six limited-series-production LUHs, which are designed to reach a top speed of 220 kmph, a service range of 6.5 km and an operational range of 350 km.