HAL Struggles With Flaw in Navy, Coast Guard Dhruvs

The Military's Advanced Light Helicopter Fleet Was Grounded After a Fatal Coast Guard Crash in Gujarat on January 5

- Rahul Singh

NEW DELHI: Plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is struggling to pinpoint and fix a lingering flaw in the Dhruv advanced light helicopters operated by the navy and coast guard, and a question mark hangs over when the locally produced choppers — grounded for almost six months now — will return to service, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

The military's advanced light helicopter (ALH) fleet was grounded following a fatal coast guard crash at Porbandar in Gujarat on January 5, but the army and air force choppers were declared airworthy after comprehensive safety checks on May 1.