In the wake of a tragic crash involving a Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) earlier this year, India’s indigenous rotary-wing program has come under intense scrutiny. The incident, which claimed the lives of three Indian Coast Guard personnel during a routine training mission, prompted the grounding of the entire ALH fleet—over 330 helicopters operated across multiple services. As questions mounted over the platform’s safety and reliability, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the manufacturer of the ALH, has now issued a forceful rebuttal aimed at defending the program and addressing growing public and institutional concerns. The company’s response comes amidst heightened media attention and the continued silence over the Defect Investigation Team’s report status.
Why was the fleet grounded?
HAL had grounded over 330 ALH helicopters following the January 5 crash of a Coast Guard ALH Dhruv Mk III (CG 859) during a training mission near Porbandar, Gujarat, which tragically claimed the lives of three crew members and the conspicuous absence of the Dhruv from both the Republic Day flypast and the Aero India 2025 airshow.
In September 2024, there was also a crash during a medical evacuation in which three personnel were killed.
Following initial analysis, HAL itself recommended the grounding after recovering data from the flight recorder. The data indicated the aircraft failed to respond to pilot inputs moments before the crash. An error was traced to a fracture in the swash plate assembly inside the Integrated Dynamic System (IDS).
Amidst mounting public scrutiny, state-owned HAL faced accusations ranging from poor quality control to lack of accountability. Critics, including former test pilots, retired officers, and defence analysts, have also raised long-standing concerns about the reliability of HAL’s platforms.
Following these reports in the media and other platforms, in its latest public statement, HAL dismissed these narratives as “malicious,” “speculative,” and “one-sided.” The HAL statement has accused the authors of excluding HAL’s viewpoint.
Background
At a press conference held at Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru this February, HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr DK Sunil stated that a decision on resuming operations of Dhruv, India’s indigenously developed ALH, would be made after the Defect Investigation Team submitted its report.
However, that report—expected in three weeks, according to Dr Sunil—has yet to be made public, and the fleet remains grounded over three months later. This continued silence has only deepened questions surrounding the safety and reliability of HAL’s flagship helicopter.
“The preliminary investigation suggested that the crash was caused due to a fracture in the swash plate of the helicopter,” the HAL CMD said at the press conference. “But still, the Defect Investigation Team has been conducting a detailed investigation… It is expected to submit its report in three weeks, following which we will take a call on resuming operations of the ALH.”
That call has not yet come. Meanwhile, HAL continues to face growing scrutiny over its handling of the crisis.
The ALH Dhruv, which is operated by all branches of the Indian military and marketed as a low-cost alternative to Western utility helicopters, has experienced 28 crashes over its 25-year service history. Notably, 13 of these were due to technical reasons, another third to human error, and the remainder to unknown causes.
Addressing concerns about the aircraft’s safety, Dr. Sunil maintained that “there is no fault with the design of the chopper,” and pointed instead to possible issues with maintenance and training. “We are working with the Indian Coast Guards to learn their maintenance practices and find out if any changes are to be made,” he added.
What does HAL say?
Issued on April 10, 2025, the statement addressed to media and social platforms, asserted that many of the reports were co-authored by individuals it labelled “so-called defence analysts,” “former pilots,” and “arm-chair critics.”
The official statement argued that the coverage contains factual inaccuracies and references to resolved issues. And many stories fail to reflect HAL’s continued collaboration with stakeholders, including the Indian Air Force (IAF).
While HAL highlighted its commitment to addressing operational issues and maintaining customer confidence, the tone of its statement suggests frustration at the volume and tone of external criticism. The state-owned company further explained that, due to the sensitive nature of defence equipment, it cannot respond to every report individually.
Does it quell concerns?
No. The statement has not quelled concerns. The months-long grounding of its flagship ALH fleet has become the company’s most serious operational crisis in years.
Industry observers argue that instead of launching a public counter-offensive, HAL would be better off issuing regular, transparent technical updates.
Why?
Because, absence of official information has allowed speculation—some of it informed and credible—to fill the void.
Is this the first time that HAL has responded to criticism?
No. HAL has also pushed back against criticism. In 2020, the company publicly responded to comments from former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash, signalling its growing sensitivity to public perception.
Challenge HAL faces?
As HAL navigates this turbulent phase, the path forward hinges not just on technical fixes but on transparent communication and meaningful engagement with its stakeholders. Restoring confidence in the Dhruv program will require more than just engineering solutions—it demands a concerted effort to address operational concerns, demonstrate sustained reliability, and rebuild the trust of India’s armed forces. How HAL responds in the coming months could define the future trajectory of indigenous helicopter programs in India.
Team BharatShakti
