The mortal remains of Commandant Rakesh Kumar Rana, the missing pilot of the Advanced Light Helicopter MK-III of Indian Coast Guard (ICG), which made an emergency landing last month, have been retrieved approximately 55 kms south west off the coast of Porbandar, defence ministry said here on Friday.

After over 70 air sorties and involvement of multiple ships, the mortal remains of Commandant were retrieved on Thursday. 

The Commandant, who was the helicopter’s pilot-in-command, was on a medical evacuation mission along with one pilot and two air crew divers to evacuate a seriously injured crew member from Motor Tanker Hari Leela.

The helicopter had to make an emergency landing on September two, after which ICG along with the Indian Navy launched a massive search and rescue operation for the missing personnel. One crew was rescued, while the mortal remains of three others were recovered on September three.

“His mortal remains will be cremated as per service traditions and honour.

A warm salute to the three brave souls from Rank and File of the Indian Coast Guard who laid down their lives in the line of duty,” it said.  The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) of the Coast Guard with four crew members met with the accident while trying to evacuate an injured man on board motor tanker Hari Leela, nearly 30 nautical miles from the Porbandar coast.

While one of the four crew members on the helicopter, diver Gautam Kumar, was rescued immediately, three went missing.

A day later, the bodies of pilot Vipin Babu and diver Karan Singh were recovered.

But Rana remained missing, prompting a massive search operation.