How The Accident Happened

The crash occurred around 12:15 pm at the Coast Guard Air Enclave located at Porbandar airport, when the ALH Mk‑III helicopter was returning from a routine training sortie and reportedly developed a technical snag during the landing phase.

According to initial accounts from local officials and defence sources, the helicopter hit the runway area, toppled and burst into flames within moments, sending thick black smoke into the sky before airport and Coast Guard fire tenders brought the blaze under control.

Three Crew Members Lose Their Lives

The crew on board comprised two Coast Guard pilots and one aircrew diver; they were pulled out of the burning wreckage in a critically injured state and rushed to the Government Hospital in Porbandar, where doctors declared all three dead on arrival.

The personnel have been identified as Commandant (JG) Saurabh, Deputy Commandant S K Yadav and aircrew diver Manoj Pradhan Navik, whose mortal remains will be cremated with full service honours according to Coast Guard traditions.

Official Response And Inquiry

In an official statement, the defence ministry confirmed the accident and said a Board of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the circumstances leading to the crash, including any possible technical failure, human factors or procedural issues.

Senior Coast Guard officers and specialists from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which designed and built the Dhruv series, are expected to assist the probe, even as the force undertakes a focused safety review of its ALH Mk‑III fleet operating along the western seaboard.

Recent Safety Concerns Around Dhruv Fleet

The Porbandar crash is the latest in a series of accidents involving the Dhruv family of helicopters, with at least one earlier Coast Guard ALH Mk‑III from the same base having crashed into the Arabian Sea during a medical evacuation mission in 2024, killing three crew members.

Following repeated incidents across different services, the armed forces have, on multiple occasions since 2023, temporarily grounded sections of the Dhruv fleet for comprehensive inspections of gearboxes, transmission systems and other critical components, before progressively returning the helicopters to service after safety checks.

About The ALH Dhruv Mk‑III

The ALH Dhruv is an indigenously designed, twin‑engine, multi‑role helicopter developed by HAL in the 5.5‑ton class, and the Mk‑III maritime variant used by the Coast Guard is equipped for search‑and‑rescue, maritime patrol, pollution response and medical evacuation missions along India’s coastline.

The Indian Coast Guard operates around 16 ALH Mk‑III helicopters, which together with the Army, Navy and Air Force Dhruv fleets form a key part of India’s rotary‑wing capability from sea level up to high‑altitude operational environments.