Three Indian Army officers had a narrow escape after a HAL Cheetah helicopter crashed in the mountainous Tangste region near Leh in Ladakh earlier this week, officials confirmed on Saturday.The single-engine Cheetah helicopter reportedly crashed on May 20 while operating in the high-altitude sector. The Army officers on board, a Lieutenant Colonel, a Major and Major General Sachin Mehta, sustained minor injuries in the incident. According to officials, the helicopter was being piloted by a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, while Major General Mehta, General Officer Commanding of the 3rd Infantry Division, was travelling as a passenger.A selfie reportedly taken by Major General Mehta after the crash has since gone viral on social media, with many users describing the officers’ survival as a “miracle” given the harsh mountainous terrain and the operational challenges in the region.An official inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the crash.Fresh spotlight on ageing Cheetah fleetThe incident has once again triggered concerns over the safety and operational reliability of the ageing Cheetah helicopter fleet, which has been in service since the 1970s.The Cheetah helicopters have long been used by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force for reconnaissance, casualty evacuation and logistics support in difficult high-altitude terrains, including the Siachen Glacier sector.The helicopters also played a key role during Operation Meghdoot in 1984, when Indian forces secured strategic positions in the Siachen Glacier amid conflict with Pakistan.However, the fleet has witnessed several crashes and emergency landings over the years, often raising questions about the continued deployment of ageing airframes in demanding operational conditions.The latest crash near Leh has renewed debate over the need for faster replacement of legacy helicopters operating in extreme Himalayan sectors.