The Indian military has grounded its entire fleet of Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) following the second fatal crash in just over a year.
On January 5, an ALH operated by the Indian Coast Guard crashed during a training flight in the western state of Gujarat, killing its two pilots and one other crew member.
Preliminary analysis of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder suggests the pilot lost control of the helicopter just three to four seconds before the crash.
As a result, all 330 ALHs across the Indian Coast Guard, Army, Navy, and Air Force will remain grounded until the cause of the crash is determined and corrective measures are implemented.
Sources revealed that the military is set to conduct a comprehensive “fleet check” to identify potential mechanical and technical vulnerabilities, focusing on components such as engines, rotor blades, and control rods.
The grounding is a significant setback for the Indian military, which heavily relies on the ALH for roles including troop transport, medical evacuation, and search and rescue operations.
15 Accidents in Five Years
The ALH is a multi-role, 5.5-tonne (12,125-pound) aircraft developed by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Powered by two Shakti engines, it has the capacity to carry up to 14 military personnel.
Despite its advanced capabilities, the ALH has been involved in a series of accidents, including an October 2023 crash that killed five Indian Army personnel.
In September 2024, another ALH belonging to the Indian Coast Guard ditched at sea while approaching a tanker, resulting in the deaths of its two pilots.
A month later, in October 2024, an Indian Air Force ALH was forced to make an emergency landing during flood relief operations due to a technical failure.
In total, there have been 15 reported incidents involving ALHs over the past five years.
Veteran Indian Navy test pilot Sanjeev Kumar has pointed out that these incidents reflect a concerning failure rate of critical ALH components, which will require thorough and independent investigations.