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Indian Coast Guard Helicopter Ditches Off Porbandar Coast, Search Continues for Missing Crew

Latest Updates:

  • Search efforts intensify: Four Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ships and two aircraft are scouring the Arabian Sea near Porbandar, Gujarat, for three missing crew members after their helicopter ditched on Monday night.
  • One rescued: Thankfully, one crew member was successfully rescued shortly after the incident.
  • Adverse weather: The search is hampered by rain and strong winds in the area.
  • Cause unknown: The reason for the emergency landing and subsequent ditching of the helicopter is still under investigation.
  • Public appeals: ICG is urging all mariners in the vicinity to keep a sharp lookout and report any sightings to MRCC Mumbai.


Mumbai, India - September 3, 2024 - A dramatic turn of events unfolded on Monday night when an Indian Coast Guard (ICG) helicopter on a rescue mission ditched into the Arabian Sea off the coast of Porbandar, Gujarat.


According to a message received by MRCC Mumbai via Inmarsat on September 3rd at 06:50:39 UTC, the helicopter reported an emergency landing at position 21 Deg 11.9 N 069 Deg 24.2 E (approximately 205 nautical miles from Porbandar Light).

Search and Rescue Efforts Underway

The ICG has launched a full-scale search and rescue operation for the three missing crew members. One crew member has been safely rescued. Four ships and two additional aircraft are currently deployed in the search zone.

Weather Conditions

Current weather conditions in the area include rain with westerly winds of 10 knots gusting up to 12 knots. Waves are reported to be up to 1.9 meters and are expected to remain stable in the coming hours.

Mariners in the Area

The ICG is urging all mariners transiting the area to maintain a sharp lookout for any signs of the missing crew members and to render assistance if possible. Any sightings should be reported immediately to MRCC Mumbai.

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