Fact check: Viral image of MI17 chopper crash is from Kedarnath, NOT Ladakh

Hyderabad: Few social media accounts have posted an image with a claim that it is an MI17 helicopter that has crashed in Ladakh. Some accounts which seem to belong to Pakistani Journalists have tweeted this image. Few also shared this on Facebook with the same claim.

Indians please check is this your MI 17 crashed in Laddakh? We will keep you posted of any developments

Indians please check is this your MI 17 crashed in Ladakh? We will keep you posted on any developments!!! Just a request!!! Keep some Raffles for us also.

Archived links of the claims can be found here, here and here.

Fact Check:

This claim is FALSE.

This image belongs to an Indian Air Force Helicopter accident that happened in 2018.

When we performed a reverse image search, we found several articles pertaining to an accident that happened in April 2018 at Kedarnath, Uttarakhand.

We found a Live video of the crash, published by NDTV youtube channel in April 2018. The description of this video says A transport helicopter of the Indian Air Force crashed after it hit an iron girder while trying to land at a helipad near Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand. All passengers are safe and only faced minor injuries. The entire accident was captured on camera. Watch. (Disclaimer: Content in this video could be disturbing for viewers)

According to Times of India report, published on April 3, 2018, One person was killed and three others injured when anan Indian Air Force (IAF) cargo helicopter caught fire while landing in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath. The MI-17 helicopter caught fire after it hit an iron girder while it was attempting to land in a helipad near the Kedarnath temple.

India TV news, News18 also reported this incident in April 2018.

Opindia Hindi has also debunked this claim as False.

Therefore, the 2018 image related to the helicopter accident at Kedarnath is being passed off as a crash in Ladakh. This claim is FALSE.