HAL Chairman Defends Dhruv Helicopter Amid Safety Concerns Following Multiple Crashes

Bengaluru/New Delhi, September 20, 2025 — The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has come under scrutiny after a series of accidents since 2023. Despite repeated incidents, HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr. DK Sunil has asserted that the crashes were not the result of any manufacturing or design defects.

The Dhruv, a twin-engine, multi-role helicopter, has been indigenously developed by HAL and serves across multiple branches of the Indian Armed Forces, with at least 338 helicopters currently in service. However, frequent accidents have triggered several fleet-wide groundings, disrupting operations at a time when the forces face a shortage of helicopters.

In January this year, an Indian Coast Guard ALH Dhruv crashed during a training sortie in Porbandar, Gujarat, killing three crew members. “Out of the four crashes that have occurred — three in the Coast Guard and one in the Navy — three were due to reasons unrelated to manufacturing or design. They were either maintenance-related or operational,” Dr. Sunil told NDTV.

Following the Porbandar crash, a fracture was detected in the Non-Rotating Swashplate Bearing (NRSB), a crucial rotor system component that regulates the pitch of the blades. According to Dr. Sunil, a defect investigation committee has been examining the issue. “The Army and Air Force helicopters did not have this kind of defect, which is why they were cleared for flying in May. Their gearboxes were thoroughly inspected, and no cracks were found,” he explained.

He further noted that the Navy and Coast Guard variants exhibited different usage patterns compared to the Army and Air Force, including stress from deck landings. HAL is now conducting detailed inspections of all gearboxes in these variants before clearing them for return to service. “There are about 29 helicopters in this category. With a capacity of checking four to five gearboxes a month, we expect the process to take six to seven months,” Dr. Sunil added.

The Coast Guard has lost three Dhruv helicopters since 2023, while the Navy has lost one. In a separate tragedy on September 2, 2024, an ALH deployed for a medical evacuation from the Motor Tanker Hari Leela off Porbandar made an emergency hard landing at sea, resulting in the deaths of all crew members.

Despite these setbacks, the Army has resumed limited operations with the Dhruv fleet, including in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, reflecting the helicopter’s continued strategic importance to India’s defence forces.