In an incident off the coast of Gujarat, three crew members of an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) went missing after their aircraft crashed into the Arabian Sea during a rescue operation. The accident took place near Porbandar on the night of September 2, 2024.
The helicopter was deployed at 11:00 pm to rescue an injured crew member from the motor tanker Hari Leela stranded off the Gujarat coast. According to the ICG, the helicopter had to make an emergency landing and later ditched in the sea. Out of the four crew members on board the ship, one was rescued while the other three are still missing.
The ICG has launched a massive search and rescue operation, deploying four ships and two aircraft to locate the missing crew members and assist in rescue efforts. The incident highlights the inherent risks associated with high-stakes rescue operations and underlines the dedication of the ICG personnel involved in the mission. The search operation is ongoing, with teams working round the clock to locate and bring back the missing crew members.