An Army ALH Dhruv Helicopter has crashed in the Marwah area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar, according to officials. The crash occurred on Thursday, and two pilots and a technician were on board the chopper. Fortunately, all three injured personnel have been evacuated to Command Hospital, Udhampur, and are safe.
As per the Army’s statement, the pilots reported a technical fault to the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and proceeded for a precautionary landing. However, due to the undulating ground, undergrowth, and unprepared landing area, the helicopter made a hard landing.
Immediate rescue operations were launched, and rescue teams reached the site. The Army officials said that they are investigating the incident.
In a similar incident earlier in March, an ALH Dhruv Mark 3 helicopter of the Indian Coast Guard crashed in Kerala’s Kochi while the pilots of the force were testing the chopper. The aircraft sustained damage, but the three persons onboard, including the pilot, were safe.
On March 16, two pilots were killed after an Indian Army Aviation Cheetah helicopter crashed near the Mandala hills area in Arunachal Pradesh. The Army’s Cheetah helicopter was on an operational sortie when it lost contact with the Air Traffic Controller. A search operation was carried out by the Indian Army, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and police after the crash.
The Army stated that the pilot and the co-pilot of the helicopter lost their lives in the accident, and an investigation was being ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident. The martyred pilots were Lt Col VVB Reddy and Major Jayanth A.
Such incidents raise concerns over the safety of aircraft and helicopters being used by the Indian armed forces. The authorities need to take necessary steps to ensure the safety of the personnel on board and prevent such accidents from happening in the future.