Ecuador restricts Dhruv flights after mishaps

New Delhi, January 30

India-made Dhruv helicopters sold to Ecuador have suffered accidents recently, prompting an order of “restricted” operations on the remaining ones. This development could cause concern to the government which is planning expansion of export of military hardware.

Ecuadorian Air Force had bought seven Dhruv helicopters from state-run HAL in 2009 under a deal estimated to cost about $45 million.

Two of them had crashed earlier while two suffered accidents recently, in a span of about a fortnight.

“Three aircraft have had their operations restricted because they are undergoing a complete check,” Security Minister Cesar Navas said. — PTI