Indian Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes While Attempting Emergency Evacuation In Arabian Sea, 2 Dead

An Indian Coast Guard helicopter crashed in the Arabian Sea while conducting an emergency evacuation late at night on September 2, 2024, killing two people.

The search operation continues for one missing crew member.

The Indian Coast Guard’s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv was dispatched around 11 p.m. on September 2 to rescue a seriously injured crew member from the Indian-flagged chemical tanker MT Hari Leela (45,683 dwt), about 45 kilometres off the coast of Porbandar, Gujarat. The helicopter sank after a rough landing in the Arabian Sea.

According to reports, one crew member was rescued, while three others remained missing. Late on September 3, the Coast Guard announced the recovery of two bodies, identified as Commandant Vipin Babu and Pilot NVK Karan Singh.

One crew member is still missing, and a search and rescue operation involving four ships and two aircraft is underway.

The incident occurred as the region dealt with harsh weather conditions caused by Tropical Cyclone Asna. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued cyclonic weather advisories for Gujarat; however, the cyclone’s impact was reduced as it moved southwestward toward Oman.

The cause of the helicopter’s emergency landing is still under investigation. The incident follows previous concerns about the safety of locally manufactured ALH Dhruv helicopters, grounded last year after a series of accidents.

The Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) has ordered a design review to improve the control rods and overall airworthiness of the fleet. Despite the completion of these upgrades, safety concerns persist following a ditching incident involving a navy ALH helicopter in March.

The Coast Guard recently conducted rescue operations in Gujarat due to the adverse weather. Earlier this week, ALH helicopters evacuated 67 people from cyclone-affected areas.

On August 26, the Coast Guard carried out another challenging nighttime search and rescue operation for the distressed cargo vessel MV ITT Puma. Eleven crew members were evacuated before the vessel sank about 90 nautical miles south of Sagar Island in West Bengal, and three are still missing.

The Indian Coast Guard is still searching for the helicopter’s missing crew member and the three people missing from the MV ITT Puma.

Reference: The Hindu, Indian Express

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