ISLAMABAD: An Indian Air Force Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv wascompelled to execute a precautionary landing in an agricultural field nearBahrouli village in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district on Monday afternoonfollowing a technical malfunction during a routine training mission. Theincident, which occurred around 2:30 pm local time, involved no injuries tothe two pilots on board or damage to civilian property on the ground.
According to preliminary reports from the Indian Air Force, the crewdetected an abnormality in the aircraft’s systems while operating in thevicinity of Bareilly air base. Displaying professional composure, thepilots opted for an immediate precautionary landing in open farmland ratherthan attempting to return to base, thereby minimising risk to populatedareas. Local villagers rushed to the site but were kept at a safe distanceby police and air force personnel who arrived shortly afterwards. Thehelicopter was subsequently secured and arrangements made for its recoveryand detailed technical investigation.
The ALH Dhruv, an indigenous multi-role helicopter developed by HindustanAeronautics Limited, has been the backbone of the Indian Army, Navy, AirForce and Coast Guard fleets since its induction two decades ago. However,the platform has faced persistent scrutiny over recurring technical issues,particularly related to engine performance, rotor systems and avionicsintegration. Several accidents in the past, some fatal, have beenattributed to design and maintenance shortcomings, prompting repeatedgrounding of the fleet and modifications.
Defence analysts note that while the latest incident appears to have beenhandled without loss of life or asset, it underscores continuingreliability concerns surrounding the Dhruv programme at a time when Indiais aggressively marketing the helicopter for export. The timing isparticularly sensitive given recent diplomatic efforts to project India’sdefence manufacturing capabilities on the global stage.
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The Indian Air Force has constituted a court of inquiry to ascertain theexact cause of the malfunction. Operations of the ALH fleet in the sectorhave reportedly been temporarily restricted pending initial findings.
Source:www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-air-force-helicopter-makes-precautionary-landing-in-up-field-after-technical-snag-101732148126947.html”>https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-air-force-helicopter-makes-precautionary-landing-in-up-field-after-technical-snag-101732148126947.htmlSource:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/iaf-helicopter-makes-emergency-landing-in-bareilly-field/articleshow/115378492.cms