On April 11, 2025— Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s premier aerospace and defence manufacturer, has issued a strong statement addressing what it calls “speculative and malicious” media reports following the tragic crash of an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) operated by the Indian Coast Guard in January 2025. The accident, which claimed the lives of three crew members, has reignited debates over the safety of HAL’s indigenous helicopters, prompting the company to defend its reputation and reassure stakeholders.
In a series of posts on X, HAL expressed frustration over a wave of critical stories published across online platforms, print media, blogs, and social media. The company accused so-called defence analysts, former pilots, officers, and “armchair critics” of authoring one-sided narratives without seeking HAL’s perspective. “These stories are written without offering HAL’s perspective, and arguments are one-sided and biased,” the company stated, pointing to inaccuracies and references to outdated issues that HAL claims to have resolved in collaboration with its customers.
The January crash at the Coast Guard Air Enclave in Porbandar, Gujarat, was the latest in a series of incidents involving the ALH, a helicopter designed and developed by HAL since 1984 to replace India’s aging fleet of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters. According to the Indian Express, The accident killed all three persons on board during a training sortie, leading to the grounding of the entire fleet of approximately 300 ALH helicopters for safety checks. This was the third such crash involving the Indian Coast Guard in less than two years, with previous incidents in 2021, 2022, and 2023 claiming additional lives across the Army and Coast Guard.
HAL’s statement comes at a time when the company is under intense scrutiny. The Print reported in January 2025 that the 835 Squadron (CG) Porbandar has been reduced to just two helicopters, with more than half of its flight crew lost in ALH crashes. Military aviation veterans have raised concerns over recurring issues, particularly with the helicopter’s flight control systems, such as fractured control rods and booster rod failures, which have been linked to at least half a dozen crashes, some fatal. Despite HAL’s efforts to address these issues—such as replacing problematic booster control rods with more durable steel versions in newer models—confidence in the ALH’s safety record remains shaky.
The company, however, is pushing back against the narrative of failure. In its X thread, HAL emphasized its commitment to working closely with customers like the Indian Air Force to address the “critical issues” inherent in defence aeronautics and complex flying platforms. “HAL cannot respond to or comment on all these reports one-on-one due to the sensitive nature of Defence issues and products,” the company noted, underscoring the challenges of operating in a highly sensitive sector.
The timing of HAL’s statement is significant. The company has faced financial turbulence, with its stock price dropping 32% over the past six months, as reported by India Today in February 2025. This decline reflects growing investor concerns over HAL’s ability to deliver reliable defense solutions amid the ALH controversies. Yet, HAL remains a cornerstone of India’s defence ecosystem. Established in 1940, it is one of the world’s oldest aerospace manufacturers and plays a pivotal role in modernizing the Indian Air Force.
HAL’s statement is a clear attempt to safeguard its reputation and protect the interests of its stakeholders, who may be swayed by what the company describes as “unwarranted and speculative stories.” The company’s leadership appears confident in its ability to navigate the storm, leaning on its long-standing partnerships with the Indian armed forces and its track record of innovation, such as the development of platforms like the HF-24 Marut, Dhruv, Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Tejas and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).
As investigations into the January crash continue, with the Coast Guard’s Boards of Inquiry examining the ALH’s flying controls and transmission systems, HAL’s future hinges on its ability to restore trust. For now, the company is standing its ground, urging the public and media to look beyond the headlines and recognize its efforts to uphold India’s defence capabilities in a challenging and high-stakes environment.
