Navy aircraft makes emergency landing at sea after technical failure

A High-Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft (HALE RPA), a drone leased by the Indian Navy, was involved in a controlled ditching off the coast of Chennai on Tuesday after encountering a technical failure. The aircraft, operating from INS Rajali in Arakkonam near Chennai, was on a routine surveillance mission when the malfunction occurred at around 2 pm.
Ditching means an aircraft performs an emergency landing on water if it is unable to reach the runway due to technical issues or unforeseen circumstances.
Despite attempts to resolve the issue mid-flight, the technical fault could not be rectified, prompting the crew to take decisive action. In order to prevent potential danger to populated areas, the aircraft safely navigated to a designated area over the sea, where it was deliberately ditched in a controlled manner.
The Navy confirmed that no injuries or damage to personnel or property occurred as a result of the ditching. The area of the incident was secured and an inquiry was initiated.
The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the HALE RPA has been requested to provide a detailed report on the technical failure that led to the incident.
Further updates on the investigation were awaited as the Navy works closely with the OEM to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.
INS Rajali, located in Tamil Nadu’s Arakkonam, is one of the Indian Navy’s premier naval air stations. Known for housing a wide range of surveillance and reconnaissance assets, it plays a critical role in securing India’s vast maritime borders, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
As the hub of the Navy’s long-range maritime patrol operations, INS Rajali is equipped to support advanced aerial missions, including those carried out by High Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft (HALE RPA).
HALE RPAs, such as the ones leased by the Indian Navy, are crucial for extended surveillance missions. These drones are capable of staying airborne for over 24 hours, covering vast distances and high-altitude surveillance in real-time. Operating from INS Rajali, these RPAs are deployed on routine surveillance and intelligence-gathering missions across the IOR.
They monitor critical sea lanes, track vessel movements and help in maritime domain awareness. This ensures that potential threats, whether in the form of enemy submarines, hostile ships or illegal activities like piracy can be detected and addressed promptly.