Two pilots were killed after an Indian Army chopper crashed on Thursday near Mandala, West of Bomdila town in Arunachal Pradesh, Indian Army officials said.

The Cheetah helicopter, on an operational sortie, reportedly lost contact with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at nearly 9.15 am today, Lt Col Mahendra Rawat, PRO Defence Guwahati confirmed.

The deceased pilots have been identified as Lt Col VVB Reddy and Major Jayanth A.

Images of helicopter wreckage and rescue ops

“Army Cdr EC, and All Ranks offer tribute to the supreme sacrifice of Lt Col VVB Reddy and Maj Jayanth A, in the line of duty at Mandala, Arunachal Pradesh while carrying out operational flying of  Cheetah Helicopter. Indian Army stands firm with the bereaved families,” said Indian Army’s Eastern Command GOC-in-C Lt Gen RP Kalita.

Images of helicopter wreckage and rescue ops

Five search parties of the Army, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were immediately flung into action.