Two pilots were injured after a coast guard ALH Dhruv Mark 3 helicopter crashed near Cochin International Airport in Kochi, Kerala on Sunday around 12:30 (Indian Standard Time) (07:00 GMT).
"The forced landing of a helicopter of the Indian Coast Guard today took place in Kochi while the force pilots were testing the vehicle. The helicopter was at around 25 feet when it had to make a forced landing. The ICG is working towards resuming the ALH Dhruv fleet to work," the ICG officer said in a statement.
It is not yet known what caused the forced landing. After the incident, the airport was closed, and flights were either diverted or cancelled.
As well as the ICG, the ALH helicopters are used by all three defense forces - the Army, Navy, and Air Force.