Three Coast Guard personnel were killed when a Dhruv helicopter crashed in Gujarat.
On Sunday, January 5, 2025, an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv of the Indian Coast Guard crashed during a routine training flight in Porbandar, Gujarat, resulting in the death of three crew members on board. The incident took place at the Coast Guard Air Enclave in Porbandar, where the helicopter developed a technical snag, causing it to crash. The three personnel killed in the incident include Commandant Saurabh, Deputy Commandant SK Yadav and Aircrew Diver Manoj Pradhan Navik.
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As of January 5, 2025, the following details have been reported:
The helicopter was on a routine training flight when it crashed at around 12:15 pm. The crew members were rushed to a hospital in Porbandar where they were declared dead.
The Indian Coast Guard has initiated a Board of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident, the reasons for the incident are still being ascertained.
The accident is the latest in a series of accidents involving ALH Dhruv helicopters, which have been grounded several times before due to design and technical issues. The incident comes four months after another Coast Guard ALH Mk-III helicopter crashed into the Arabian Sea near Porbandar, killing three crew members and highlighting ongoing concerns over the safety record of the indigenous twin-engine choppers. The Indian Coast Guard operates a fleet of 16 ALH Dhruv helicopters designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and recently completed a significant safety upgrade on the fleet that was initiated last year after a number of accidents. Details of the incident The ALH Dhruv helicopter, with registration number CG 859, was carrying two pilots and an aircrew diver at the time of the incident Previous incidents The incident is the latest in a series of accidents involving ALH Dhruv helicopters. In September 2024, an ALH Mk-III helicopter of the Coast Guard crashed into the Arabian Sea near Porbandar, killing three crew members. The helicopter was on a medical evacuation mission to respond to an emergency on a tanker when it crashed into the sea. The incident led to the temporary grounding of the ALH fleet and the Coast Guard ordered a one-time safety check of its helicopters.
Safety concerns The incident has raised concerns over the safety record of the ALH Dhruv helicopters, which have been involved in several accidents in the past. The helicopters have been grounded several times due to design and technical issues, and the Indian Coast Guard has initiated significant safety upgrades to the fleet after a series of accidents last year. The upgrades, which involve replacing some components, are expected to improve the airworthiness of the helicopters.