Indian Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes In Arabian Sea, 2 Pilots Lost

Helicopter illustration. (ZurdaF-Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The SAR team carried out a massive operation following a helicopter unit of Indian coast guard crashing into the Arabian Sea off the coast of Porbandar, India.

The helicopter contained four crew members including the two pilots made an emergency landing during the Indian-flagged Tanker evacuation operation, Leela Day on Monday, September 2 evening local time.

The Indian coast guard (ICG) of the Sophisticated Light Helicopter (ALH) who saved 67 lives during the recent cyclone weather in Gujarat was launched at around 23.00 p.m. yesterday for medical evacuation of the crew who were seriously injured aboard the Indian-flagged Tanker Vessel Hari Leela, about 45 km from Porbandar to sea, in response to requests received from the ship's captain," the Indian coast guard said in a statement, quoted from the Hindustan Times, Tuesday, September 3.

In the statement, it was stated that the ALH ICG helicopter with 4 crew members on board was forced to make an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea. The location of the helicopter carcass has been detected and the initial two have been found in the search operation.

"Currently, the ICG has deployed 4 ships, and two aircraft for a search operation for two helicopter pilots," the statement said.

As for the evacuation operation of the Leela Day Tanker, 61 people have been taken to a safe location.