Bengaluru: Days after media reports surfaced about Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)-made Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) remaining grounded for at least three more months, the organisation has hit out at what it calls ‘speculative reports and stories with malicious intentions’.
An Indian Coast Guard ALH crashed in Porbandar, Gujarat, on January 6 this year, resulting in the deaths of the two pilots and an air crew diver. Another Coast Guard ALH had crashed into the sea near Porbandar in September last year.
In a statement issued on Friday, HAL said: “HAL would like to bring to the notice of all its stakeholders, media and all forms of publications – online, print, websites, blogs, social and digital media platforms etc. that of late, ever since the unfortunate accident of ALH operated by the Indian Coast Guard in January, speculative and stories with malicious intentions on HAL are being written and published on these platforms. These stories are authored by so-called Defence analysts, former pilots, officers of the Defence Forces and arm-chair critics.”
The statement, issued by Gopal Sutar, chief of media communications, HAL, states that the organisation is unhappy as: “These stories are written without offering HAL’s perspective, and arguments are one-sided and biased. There are inaccuracies and references to outdated issues that have long been resolved by HAL by taking its customers into confidence.”
HAL has claimed that such issues are innate to defence aeronautics and complex flying platforms and it is confident of handling them.
“HAL cannot respond to or comment on all these reports one-on-one due to the sensitive nature of Defence issues and products. HAL would like to reiterate that it is working with all its customers including the Indian Air Force and is confident of handling the critical issues that are innate to the Defence Aeronautics and complex flying platforms. These stories can harm the interests of HAL’s stakeholders and therefore this statement is being filed to protect the interests of all our stakeholders from being influenced by unwarranted and speculative stories,” it has been mentioned.
