Helicopter crew killed while trying to rescue injured sailor from tanker MR

Three Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel were reportedly killed when their helicopter crashed while trying to airlift a sailor from a tanker.

The death of a pilot and a crew member has been confirmed while another pilot went missing following the accident involving the 46,000-dwt MR vessel Hari Leela (built in 2000) off the coast of Porbandar on Monday evening, the New Indian Express reported.

The helicopter took off late Monday evening after the tanker sent out an SOS about a sick crew member.

The helicopter crashed into the sea. One other crew member was rescued.

The report said two bodies were found inside the wreckage.

A search and rescue operation has been launched to find the missing pilot.

ICG reported on program X: “The helicopter took off for the medical evacuation of a crew member who suffered a head injury on board the tanker.”

“However, something happened as the helicopter approached the tanker. The helicopter made a hard landing and then fell into the sea,” it added.

The ship was 34 nautical miles from shore.

Sources told the New Indian Express that the pilot was in touch with land stations and the tanker captain as the helicopter approached.

He reportedly told the ship’s captain that the plane would make one more circle around the ship and then drop off evacuation equipment.

The ICG dispatched four ships and two aircraft to the scene.

The tanker is operated by Ind Aust Maritime from India.