After five-week air-sea op, Indian Coast Guard recovers mortal remains of missing pilot

After a massive search operation lasting nearly 40 days, the Indian Coast Guard(ICG) and Indian Navy have recovered the mortal remains of an ICG chopper pilot who went missing off Gujarat, after ditching the ill-fated ALH-Mk3 helicopter at sea. 

The ALH Mk3 helicopter bearing frame no. CG 863 had ditched at sea on 2nd September at 2315 hrs. The ICG helicopter had two Pilots and two Air Crew Divers. They were deployed on a Medical evacuation mission to provide succour to a seriously injured crew member from Motor Tanker Hari Leela. 

In the immediate aftermath of the accident, ICG launched a massive search and rescue operation, during which one crew member was rescued at sea. Further, mortal remains of Commandant (JG) Vipin Babu and Karan Singh, Pradhan Navik were recovered at sea on 3rd September. 

However, the Coast Guard and Navy persisted with their efforts to locate Commandant Rakesh Kumar Rana, who was the Pilot in Command of the mission. 

The air-sea operations included more than 70 air sorties and spanned 82 ship days. According to the Indian Coast Guard, the mortal remains of the aviator has been retrieved from sea on Thursday 10th October, around 55 Km southwest of Porbandar, Gujarat. The Mortal remains will be cremated as per service traditions and honour.