Helicopter Crash at Gujarat’s Porbandar Airport Claims Three Lives

Three personnel of an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) belonging to the Indian Coast Guard lost their lives when the chopper crashed and caught fire at Porbandar airport in Gujarat on Sunday, according to government authorities.

The deceased include Commandant Saurabh, Deputy Commandant SK Yadav, and Manoj Pradhan Navik, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defence.

In a statement, the defence ministry reported, “An ALH MK-III helicopter of the Indian Coast Guard met with an accident on the Porbandar airport runway at approximately 12:15 PM on January 5. The helicopter, carrying two pilots and one aircrew diver, was on a routine training sortie.”

Porbandar Superintendent of Police Bhagirathsinh Jadeja revealed that the Dhruv chopper, operated by the armed forces, crashed near the runway and subsequently caught fire. Visuals showed the helicopter engulfed in flames, which were later extinguished with the help of a fire engine.

The crew members were rescued from the burning aircraft and rushed to a hospital in Porbandar with severe burns. Unfortunately, all three succumbed to their injuries.

Authorities have initiated an inquiry to determine the cause of the crash, which remains unknown.

The Indian Coast Guard, responsible for maritime law enforcement and search-and-rescue operations within India’s territorial waters, operates the ALH-Dhruv helicopter. This indigenously designed and developed twin-engine helicopter is a versatile, multi-role aircraft in the 5.5-ton weight class.

This incident follows a similar tragedy in September when an ALH MK-III helicopter crashed into the Arabian Sea near Porbandar. Of the three crew members aboard, two bodies were recovered, while the pilot, Rakesh Kumar Rana, was found a month later off the Gujarat coast. The helicopter had been attempting to evacuate an injured man from a motor tanker 30 nautical miles from the Porbandar coast.

The ALH Dhruv platform has faced scrutiny in recent years. Two years ago, design and metallurgy flaws were identified, prompting the Army and Air Force to temporarily ground their fleets. Following a comprehensive safety audit, operations resumed.

Currently, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard operate over 325 ALH Dhruv helicopters, all of which underwent technical inspections after multiple incidents in 2023.