Indian Coast Guard chopper crashes in Gujarat during routine sortie

"Three crew members killed as Indian Coast Guard helicopter crashes in Gujarat's Porbandar," a police official told news agency PTI.

According to officials, the helicopter experienced technical difficulties, resulting in the crash. Two pilots and three others were on board the aircraft.

The Indian Coast Guard is investigating the incident, and further details are awaited.

The incident comes at a time when a critical safety upgrade on the military’s ALH fleet, initiated by HAL after a string of accidents last year, has been completed and the upgraded control system installed on the locally made choppers is expected to improve their airworthiness.