Dhruv light chopper fleet grounded again after Gujarat accident brings back concerns

The Indian Coast Guard has temporarily grounded its fleet of locally made Dhruv advanced light helicopters (ALH) for a safety inspection after one crashed at Porbandar in Gujarat on Sunday, killing two pilots and a diver who were on a routine training sortie, officials aware of the matter said on Monday.

- Rahul Singh

This is the second time in four months that the Coast Guard has suspended ALH operations following a crash. The fleet was grounded in September 2024, too, after a helicopter crashed into the Arabian Sea near Porbandar. Then, too, two pilots and an aircrew diver were killed.

These accidents are a matter of concern, given that a critical safety upgrade on the military's ALH fleet, initiated by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after a string of accidents in 2023, was completed before the incidents took place. This involved installing upgraded control systems on the helicopters to improve their airworthiness.

The Coast Guard operates 19 ALHS, designed and developed by HAL.