The Indian Army’s Cheetal helicopters continue to fly regular mountain sorties in the Ladakh sector, including the Siachen glacier, even as investigators examine a suspected technical failure that caused a recent crash, officials aware of the development said on Wednesday. The Leh-based HQs 14 Corps, responsible for operations in the sector, operates around 25 Cheetals—a re-engined version of the workhorse Cheetah helicopter. (Facebook/Indian Air Force’s post) The investigation has zeroed in on a material failure in the transmission system of the single-engine helicopter that crashed near Leh’s Tangtse area on May 20, the officials said, asking not to be named. “The probe will identify which component in the transmission system failed after which corrective steps will be taken,” said one of the officials. The Leh-based HQs 14 Corps, responsible for operations in the sector, operates around 25 Cheetals—a re-engined version of the workhorse Cheetah helicopter. “The heavier advanced light helicopter Dhruv cannot be used for front-line duties in the Ladakh mountains. The Cheetals, which have an exceptional power-to-weight ratio, have been flying daily since the …