Over a month after the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv fleet was grounded following a crash in Gujarat, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman D.K. Sunil announced that the company is awaiting the findings of the probe committee before deciding on the fleet’s clearance for operations.
At a press conference during Aero India 2025 at the Yelahanka Air Force Base in Bengaluru, CMD stated that HAL is carefully assessing whether specific mechanical issues or systemic defects caused the crash.
“It was an unfortunate incident. The Dhruv fleet has completed over 400,000 hours of flying. The Defect Investigation Team (DIT) is expected to submit its report within three weeks. Once the findings are reviewed, we will take a decision regarding the fleet’s clearance,” he said.
The grounding of the fleet followed the January 5 crash of an Indian Coast Guard ALH Dhruv MK III at Porbandar Airport in Gujarat, which tragically claimed the lives of three crew members. HAL responded by temporarily grounding all 330 ALH Dhruv helicopters in service and initiating a thorough investigation, including a technical review of the fleet.
To aid the inquiry, a committee was formed under the leadership of Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, former head of the Indian Air Force’s Maintenance Command. The committee’s mandate includes reviewing the maintenance practices of Coast Guard helicopters and providing recommendations.
“In the last 25 years, there have been 28 crashes involving ALH helicopters—13 caused by technical issues, 13 attributed to human error, and two for unknown reasons,” Sunil revealed. “In the January 5 incident, a preliminary examination identified a fracture in the swash plate of the helicopter. We are working closely with the Indian Coast Guard to evaluate the fleet’s maintenance standards and will take a decision on resuming operations based on the probe findings.”
Sunil also highlighted HAL’s focus on enhancing training and maintenance protocols for personnel operating the Dhruv fleet to prevent future incidents.
The ALH Dhruv is a versatile multi-utility helicopter operated by all branches of the Indian armed forces. It has been marketed as a cost-effective alternative to Western-made helicopters for various military and civilian applications.
Ravi Shankar
