Sources said it was most likely a mechanical failure.

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 29
Three Indian Army officers were killed when an Army Aviation helicopter crashed near Siliguri on Wednesday.
The two pilots–both in the rank of major- and a lieutenant colonel-rank officer were killed when the Cheetah helicopter just dropped to ground suddenly when it was coming to land at the headquarters of the 33 Corps at Sukhna, 11 km from Siliguri in northern part of West Bengal.

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Sources said it was most likely a mechanical failure.
Another accompanying copter which was carrying the Chief of Staff of 33 Corps landed safely.
The two copters were returning from a mission in Sikkim.

3 Army officers die in copter crash

Haryana’s Major Lathar, Jammu’s Major Bazala among dead

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, November 30

Three Army officers, including two belonging to Haryana and Jammu, were killed when their helicopter crashed at Sukna in Darjeeling district of West Bengal.Those killed were Major Sanjeev Lathar of Bhiwani, Haryana, Major Arvind Bazala of RS Pura, Jammu, the pilot and the co-pilot, respectively, and Lt Col Rajneesh Kumar of Farrukhabad district, Uttar Pradesh. The crash took place near the helipad of the Army’s 33 Corp’s headquarter at Sukna.Sapper Dhamne Yogesh Bhaskar, the fourth passenger, was seriously injured in the mishap. The Cheetah helicopter was built by the Bangalore-headquartered Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under licence from the French manufacturer.”The helicopter crashed while landing at Sukna Military Station around 11.30 am. The helicopter was coming in to land from a routine sortie. Three officers were fatally injured and one jawan was critically wounded in the accident. They were taken to Bengdubi Military Hospital,” a press release issued by the Army said.The three officers were declared brought dead, while the fourth was being treated in the hospital for serious injuries.A Court of Inquiry has been ordered by the Army authorities to ascertain the cause of the incident.“Saddened at the death of 3 Army officers in Sukna due to tragic chopper crash. Words are never enough. My condolences to bereaved families,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Twitter.