AHMEDABAD: In a tragic incident on Sunday, at least three people were killed when an Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) crashed at Porbandar Coast Guard Airport in Gujarat.
The helicopter, which was on a routine training sortie, went down in an open field and was engulfed in flames, as shown in disturbing visuals.
While the cause of the crash remains unclear, authorities have already launched an inquiry to determine what led to the fatal accident.
"The ICG helicopter had 02 Pilots and 01 Air Crew Diver at the time of incident and was on a routine training sortie. Immediately post incident, the crew were recovered and shifted to Government Hospital Porbandar, where they were declared brought dead. The reasons leading to the incident are being investigated by a Board of Inquiry,” said an official pres release from ICG.
"The Mortal remains of the crew viz. Commandant (JG) Saurabh, TM, Deputy Commandant SK Yadav and Pradhan Navik Manoj will be cremated as per service traditions and honour.” the ICG said.
The incident comes four months after the ICG's ALH MK-III helicopter crashed into the Arabian Sea off Porbandar on September 2 last year, killing three crew members.
While two bodies were recovered shortly after, a search effort was launched to locate the pilot, Rakesh Kumar Rana. After an extensive month-long search, the Coast Guard finally located the pilot's body off the Gujarat coast in October.
The crash occurred during a critical evacuation mission, as the helicopter was attempting to rescue an injured man from the motor tanker Hari Leela, situated nearly 30 nautical miles from Porbandar