Days after crash, Indian Army grounds ALH fleet

After two pilots were injured and a soldier killed in a crash in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar on May 4, the Army has grounded its fleet of 170 advanced light helicopters (ALH). It has also ordered a comprehensive safety check.

Sources said the pilots had reported a “loss of power” to the air traffic control.

This is the third time that checks have been ordered since October. An Army aviation copter had crashed near Migging in Arunachal Pradesh in October, killing all five on board.

In March, the Army, the Indian Air Force and the Navy grounded their respective ALH fleets and carried out checks. This was after a Navy ALH had to ditch — land the copter on water — due to “loss of power”.