An Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) of the Indian Coast Guard crashed in Gujarat’s Porbandar, killing three folks, sources advised NDTV. Three crew members onboard the chopper died within the crash after it was up in flames.
The ALH Dhruv, which is operated by the armed forces, crashed in an open subject and was up in flames, visuals confirmed. The motive behind the crash remains to be not identified and an inquiry has been launched.
The Dhruv chopper was on a routine sortie when it crashed. The crash befell on the Air Enclave of the Indian Coast Guard and some folks had been additionally injured within the crash. They are being handled on the civil hospital, sources stated.
The Indian Coast Guard is a maritime regulation enforcement and search and rescue company, with jurisdiction in India’s territorial waters.
The identification of the victims is unknown and extra particulars are awaited.
Four months in the past in September, three crew members went lacking after the ALH MK-III helicopter fell into the Arabian Sea off Porbandar. While the our bodies of two crew members had been recovered subsequently, a search continued to hint Rakesh Kumar Rana, the pilot in control of the mission.
After a month-long search, the pilot’s physique was recovered in October off the Gujarat coast by the Coast Guard.
The chopper crashed whereas attempting to evacuate an injured man on board motor tanker Hari Leela, practically 30 nautical miles from the Porbandar coast.
Two years in the past, a string of flaws had been recognized within the ALH Dhruv chopper, which is operated by the Army, Navy and the Air Force.
There had been sure design and metallurgy points in some parts that had been recognized. The scrutiny was carried out after accidents involving the platform that had compelled the Army and the Indian Air Force to floor their fleets.
The choppers that had been grounded resumed their operations following the completion of the security audit.
The Indian Navy, the IAF, the Army and the Coast Guard have a complete of over 325 ALH Dhruv helicopters and all of them underwent technical checks following the incidents of accidents in 2023.