Indian Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes in Gujarat’s Porbandar, 3 Dead

An Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv crashed in Porbandar, Gujarat, during a routine training flight on Sunday. The three crew members on board were killed in the tragic accident, and two others were present at the time of the crash. A loud explosion was heard after the crash, according to witnesses.

Incident Details

The accident took place at the Coast Guard Air Enclave in Porbandar. Preliminary reports indicate that a technical snag caused the accident. This is the second crash of an ALH Dhruv in four months, after a similar incident occurred in September near the Arabian Sea, forcing a temporary grounding of the ALH fleet.

ALH Dhruv: A Fleet Backbone

The Indian Coast Guard has 16 ALH helicopters, which are designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru. These helicopters are part of several missions, including surveillance and search-and-rescue operations.

After the September crash, the Coast Guard had ordered a detailed safety inspection of its ALH fleet, focusing on flight control and transmission systems. However, the Porbandar crash raises questions about the reliability of the fleet.