Three people are killed when a Coast Guard helicopter crashes in Gujarat during training.

Officials claim that the incident was caused by mechanical issues with the aircraft.

Three crew members were killed when an Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv crashed on Sunday near Porbandar, Gujarat, while on a normal training mission. The Coast Guard Air Enclave in Porbandar is where the event took place.

According to officials, the crash occurred at 12:10 p.m. due to mechanical issues with the helicopter. Together with the two pilots, there were three passengers. According to news agency PTI, all three were killed in the collision.

Inspector Rajesh Kanmiya of the Kamala Baug police station stated, "Although two of them were declared brought dead, one was alive when brought to the hospital and died later."

According to Bhagirathsinh Jadeja, the superintendent of police for Porbandar, the helicopter fell close to the runway and caught fire. According to him, a firefighter later assisted in bringing the fire under control.

According to him, the three crew members were taken off the helicopter and sent to a hospital in Porbandar, where they were found to be seriously burned.

The event is being looked into by the Indian Coast Guard.

The tragedy occurs as the military's ALH fleet undergoes a crucial safety update that was started by HAL following a series of mishaps last year. The enhanced control system on the domestically produced choppers is anticipated to increase their airworthiness.

Last year, the Dhruv fleet was grounded multiple times due to a persistent design flaw that raised doubts about its track record of flying safety.

Months ago, the same tragedy
An advanced light helicopter (ALH Mk-III) operated by Dhruv crashed into the Arabian Sea close to Porbandar in September. According to an internal correspondence that HT was able to receive, the Coast Guard responded to the event by ordering a one-time safety examination of its fleet of ALH aircraft, with a particular focus on the flying controls and transmission system. The fleet has been grounded for the time being. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), situated in Bengaluru, designs and manufactures the 16 ALHs that the Coast Guard uses.

About fifteen minutes later, at approximately 11:15 p.m., the helicopter crashed into the sea while responding to an emergency aboard a tanker while on a medical evacuation operation. An airplane "ditching" is when it makes an emergency water landing.

Recently, during Gujarat's floods, this same aircraft was instrumental in rescue efforts. "The Indian Coast Guard ALH, which saved 67 lives during the recent cyclonic weather in Gujarat, was launched around 11:00 pm on September 2, 2024, for the medical evacuation of a seriously injured crew member aboard the Indian-flagged motor tanker Hari Leela, about 45 km from Porbandar, in response to a request from the vessel's master," the Coast Guard stated in a statement.