Two Coast Guard Personnel Found Dead After Helicopter Crash, Search for Missing Pilot Continues

The Indian Coast Guard on Tuesday 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 was on a medical evacuation mission when it went down around 11:15 PM on Monday. While one crew member, a flight diver, was rescued earlier in the day, the search for the pilot, Commandant Rakesh Rana, was ongoing as of Tuesday evening.

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

The helicopter in question, with Tail Number CG 863, was launched for the medical evacuation of an injured crew member on board the Indian-flagged motor tanker Hari Leela, located about 45 km from Porbandar. The helicopter ditched into the sea just 15 minutes after takeoff. The same helicopter had recently played a crucial role in rescue operations during the flooding in Gujarat, saving 67 lives.

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

This incident occurs as the military’s ALH fleet, which has faced several design issues and accidents in recent years, undergoes critical safety upgrades. These upgrades, initiated by HAL, include the replacement of flawed booster control rods with new, more durable steel rods. The ALH fleet has been involved in 13 accidents over the past five years, prompting a comprehensive design review to improve its airworthiness.