New Delhi: Three members of the Indian Coast Guard are missing following the emergency landing of their Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) in the Arabian Sea. The incident occurred late on the night of September 2, during a rescue operation off the coast of Porbandar, Gujarat.The helicopter, carrying four crew members, was dispatched at 11 PM to evacuate an injured crew member from the Motor Tanker Hari Leela, located approximately 45 kilometers from the Porbandar coast.Rescue operations underwayAccording to the sources, while one crew member has been rescued, the search for the remaining three continues. The Indian Coast Guard has launched an extensive search operation, deploying four ships and two aircraft to locate the missing personnel. In a post on X, the Indian Coast Guard confirmed the ongoing search efforts, emphasizing their commitment to rescuing their colleagues.ICG ALH helicopter with 4 aircrew onboard, during the said operation reportedly was forced to make an emergency landing at sea. One crew has been recovered and search for the remaining 3 crew is in progress. Aircraft wreckage has been located. The incident happened whilst the…— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2024What actually happenedIn an official statement, the Indian Coast Guard highlighted the critical role the ALH had played in recent rescue missions, including saving 67 lives during cyclonic weather in Gujarat. The statement detailed that the helicopter was approaching the Motor Tanker Hari Leela for the evacuation when the emergency landing occurred. The wreckage of the helicopter has been located, but the search for the missing crew members continues.
