Body of Indian Coast Guard Pilot Recovered Off Gujarat Coast After Month-Long Search

New Delhi: The body of a missing pilot of Indian Coast Guard has been recovered off Gujarat coast, authorities said on Friday. The Coast Guard pilot had gone missing after his helicopter crashed on September 2. The deceased pilot has be identified as Commandant Rakesh Kumar Rana. The crash occurred when the helicopter with Rana ( the pilot in command of the ALH MK-III helicopter) and three others on board, made a water landing in the Arabian Sea on September 2.  

While bodies of two others — Cmdr (JG) Vipin Babu and Pradhan Navik Karan Singh — were recovered a day after after the crash, Rana went missing. The fourth person onboard was rescued. The crash prompted the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy to launch a massive search and rescue operation but they were unable to trace Rana for over a month. 

Rana's mortal remains were located about 55 kilometres southwest of Porbandar in Gujarat , on Thursday, the Indian Coast Guard said in a statement. The search for him involved over 70 air sorties and several vessels, carried out over 82 ship days.

In a statement, the ICG said, "Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ALH MK-III helicopter bearing frame no. CG 863 had ditched at sea on September 2, at 2315 hrs. The ICG helicopter had 2 Pilots and 2 Air Crew Divers and was on a Medevac mission to evacuate a seriously injured crew member from Motor Tanker Hari Leela. Post-accident, ICG launched a massive search and rescue operation, during which one crew was rescued from sea. Further, the mortal remains of Commandant (JG) Vipin Babu and Karan Singh, Pradhan Navik were recovered from the sea on September 3."

Cmdr. Rana will be cremated with full military honours, the Indian Coast Guard has said. 

"ICG along with the Indian Navy and other stakeholders continued unrelenting search efforts to locate the remaining crew, Commandant Rakesh Kumar Rana, who was the Pilot in Command of the mission. As part of the continuous search efforts by ICG and IN ships in the area, more than 70 air sorties and 82 ship days involving several ships were tasked with locating the missing pilot. It is intimated with much regret that mortal remains of the brave soul were retrieved from the sea on October 10, approx. 55 Km southwest of Porbandar. The mortal remains will be cremated as per service traditions and honour, the statement further read.