Indian media reports confirm the fatalities, citing Indian Coast Guard officials who have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. A search and rescue team quickly located the wreckage and recovered the bodies of the three deceased, along with two injured individuals.

A Coast Guard spokesperson stated that while a full investigation is underway, initial indications suggest a technical malfunction may have been responsible for the crash.

The spokesperson did not provide further details about the nature of the injuries sustained by the two survivors.

This incident recalls a similar tragedy in 2021, where a helicopter crash claimed the lives of 13 officers, including India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat.