On Tuesday, the Indian Coast Guard recovered the bodies of two personnel who had gone missing after their Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH Mk-III) crashed into the Arabian Sea near Porbandar the previous night. The helicopter, on a medical evacuation mission, went down around 11:15 PM on Monday. Earlier in the day, a flight diver was rescued, but the search for the missing pilot, Commandant Rakesh Rana, continued as of Tuesday evening.

In response to the crash, the Coast Guard has ordered a thorough safety inspection of its ALH fleet, focusing on the flying controls and transmission system. The fleet has been temporarily grounded as a precaution. The Coast Guard operates 16 ALHs, which are designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The helicopter, Tail Number CG 863, was en route to evacuate an injured crew member from the Indian-flagged motor tanker Hari Leela, located about 45 km from Porbandar. The helicopter crashed into the sea just 15 minutes after takeoff. It had recently been involved in rescue operations during the Gujarat floods, where it saved 67 lives.

The search and rescue teams have recovered the bodies of Deputy Commandant Vipin Babu, the co-pilot, and another flight diver. Preliminary reports indicate that the helicopter crashed nose-first into the sea. The wreckage was located, and the flight diver was rescued on Tuesday morning.

This tragic incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of the ALH fleet, which has faced several design issues and accidents in recent years. HAL is currently implementing critical safety upgrades, including replacing flawed booster control rods with more durable steel rods. The ALH fleet has experienced 13 accidents over the past five years, prompting a comprehensive design review to enhance its safety.

Indian Coast Guard Helicopter Emergency Landing in Arabian Sea, Search Underway

Search Underway for Missing Russian Mi-8 Helicopter with 22 People Onboard

BREAKING! Tragic Helicopter Crash in Kedarnath During Airlift Operation