peachygamesA helicopter of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) crashes during landing at Porbandar airport, Gujarat, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.Photo: PTI A helicopter of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) crashes during landing at Porbandar airport, Gujarat, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.Photo: PTI A deadly helicopter crash claimed the lives of three Indian Coast Guard (ICG) crew members on Sunday afternoon when an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) crashed during its landing at the Porbandar airport in Gujarat.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:10 pm, according to police and Coast Guard officials.
According to Hindustan Times, the helicopter, which was involved in a routine training sortie, experienced technical difficulties leading to the crash, said officials.
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Three crew members, including two pilots, were onboard at the time of the accident.
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The three crew members were brought out of the chopper and rushed to a hospital in Porbandar in a severely burnt condition, PTI reported. All three crew members died at the hospital, said Rajesh Kanmiya, Inspector at Kamala Baug police station.
The crash took place at the Coast Guard Air Enclave in Porbandar, a key base for the ICG in Gujarat. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, and further details are expected as the probe continues.
This incident follows a series of safety concerns that had previously surrounded the ALH fleet, a multi-role helicopter manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Dhruv fleet, which includes the ALH, had been grounded for a period last year after a series of accidents, raising questions about its airworthiness. The Indian Coast Guard had initiated a safety upgrade, which included the installation of an upgraded control system to improve the reliability and performance of the fleet.
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The fatal crash comes just months after another incident involving an ALH helicopter in the Arabian Sea near Porbandar. In that incident, a helicopter that was on a medical evacuation mission tragically ditched into the sea, killing the crew members onboard. Following that event, the Coast Guard ordered a safety inspection of its ALH fleet, focusing specifically on the helicopter’s flying controls and transmission systems.
Just a few months ago, the same fleet of helicopters had been crucial in rescuing 67 people during severe flooding in Gujarat. The helicopter in question had also been involved in a high-profile medical evacuation operation on September 2extreme gaming 88, 2024, when it airlifted an injured crew member from the Indian-flagged tanker Hari Leela off the Gujarat coast.
