New Delhi, 7 Sept

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has issued a firm clarification following media reports claiming a defect in the Tail Drive Shaft (TDS) of its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, labelling the coverage as “one-sided” and “misleading.”

In a statement released on Sunday, HAL criticised a newspaper article published on September 6, which it said misrepresented the Indian Army’s directive for a one-time check (OTC) on ALH helicopters.

"OTC is a routine maintenance practice issued following the detection of a defect—in this case, the Tail Drive Shaft," HAL said, emphasising that the company is working closely with the Indian Army. Expert teams have been deployed to investigate the root cause of the issue.

HAL reiterated the importance of strictly adhering to maintenance protocols to ensure the continued airworthiness of its platforms. The company highlighted that the ALH Dhruv fleet has logged over 4.5 lakh flying hours and has served with the Indian Armed Forces, Coast Guard, and civil operators for more than two decades.

The helicopters have operated in diverse and extreme environments, from the Himalayas to coastal regions. HAL noted that ALHs were recently used in high-risk flood rescue and casualty evacuation operations, including the evacuation of civilians and CRPF personnel—demonstrating the armed forces’ continued trust in the platform.

Urging against drawing "erroneous conclusions," HAL called on the media to ensure accurate and balanced reporting, especially on critical indigenous defence platforms like the ALH Dhruv.