Indian helicopter crash kills three in Gujarat

An Indian Coast Guard helicopter crashed on Sunday near the Porbandar airport in Gujarat, killing at least three people — two pilots and a crew member, reported India Today. 

The helicopter crash occurred at 12:10pm (local time).

According to Porbandar Superintendent of Police Bhagirathsinh Jadeja, the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) went down during a routine training sortie.

Officials said that all of the crew members, including two pilots, were pulled out of the debris of the crashed aircraft with severe burns, but they later succumbed to injuries during the course of treatment.

Indian Coast Guard officials confirmed the deaths and said that an investigation into the cause of the crash was underway.

"The reasons leading to the incident are being investigated by a Board of Inquiry," the Coast Guard said in a statement.

"We salute the three brave souls of the Indian Coast Guard who laid down their lives in the line of service to the Nation," it added.

The crash comes just months after another Coast Guard helicopter went down in the sea.