Thread by @realkaypius

Navy helicopter ditches off Mumbai; crew recovered safely.

This marks the first-ever serious acc/ditching of Indian Navy's ALH since commissioning -- an unblemished record of > 2 decades.

Mumbai (INS Shikra) is home to the latest #ALHMk3MR.

Will be following this closely.

https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1633349245007970308

All IN & CG ALH are equipped with Emergency Flotation Gear (EFG) for safely ditching in water in case of critical emergency. The EFGs are auto-inflated on water contact, with an emergency override should auto fail. All crew are given exhaustive HUE training at WSTF, Kochi.

Initial reports & pics indicate helicopter floating upright in calm sea on EFGs that operated to intended purpose. Good returns on all those hours of diligent training (simulator, on-type, HUET). BoI must dig deep. Crucial safety info must be shared with all users, esp ICG.

"sudden loss of power and rapid loss of height", as per Navy statement 👇🏾

Interesting. 🤔

https://twitter.com/livefist/status/1633376168320864256?t=9egbFUkI7E4uf7vRLV6yzw&s=19

On the brighter side, we're fully #atmanirbhar in ditching now. First time an indigenously designed & developed helicopter has been successfully ditched with EFG. Wonder if that counts. 🤔

The crew has put down the stricken helicopter admirably well. EFG inflated evenly. Rescue & salvage teams on the dot. The very first navy ALH ditching. Copybook.

I think the navy has all the evidence they need to nail this one.

(Video & pics via WhatsApp) twitter.com/i/web/status/1…