Tue 04 June 2019:
Indian Air Force in association with the Army and Indo Tibetan Border Police resumed the search operation for the AN-32 aircraft that went missing on Monday.
n Indian Air Force AN-32 transport aircraft with 13 people on board went missing on Monday afternoon around 33 minutes after taking off from Jorhat in Assam for Arunachal’s Menchuka near the border with China.
Thirteen people, including eight crew members, were onboard the aircraft. The Antonov AN-32 was headed to the Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground, located in Mechuka Valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Indian Air Force has deployed Sukhoi Su-30 combat fighter jets, a C-130 Hercules special operations aircraft to locate the aircraft but the AN-32 is yet to be traced.
As search operations continue, here are developments in 10 points.
1. The Indian Air Force aircraft took off from Jorhat at 12.27 pm for the Menchuka advance landing ground in Shi-Yomi district in Arunachal Pradesh and made last contact with the ground control at 1pm.
2. A total of eight aircrew and five passengers were onboard the Air Force aircraft.
3. The IAF has deployed C-130J and AN-32 aircraft besides two Mi-17 choppers while the Indian Army has pressed into service advance light helicopters to locate the missing Antonov AN-32 aircraft. The search operations from air and by ground parties of the Indian Army continued through the night.
4. The district administration of Shi Yomi district in Arunachal Pradesh also launched a search operation along with the villagers.
5. Ground reports were received on the possible location of a crash site on Monday but when helicopters were routed to the location, no wreckage was found.
6. Search operations continue on Tuesday. “Search and rescue (SAR) operation resumes as the weather clears up on Tuesday. Two MI 17s and one ALH already deployed with the ground party of Army and ITBP,” Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said, adding that more assets may be deployed if required.
7. On the missing AN-32, defence minister Rajnath Singh said he had spoken to the vice chief of the force on steps to find the missing aircraft and was praying for the safety of all those on board.
Spoke to Vice Chief of @IAF_MCC, Air Marshal Rakesh Singh Bhadauria regarding the missing IAF AN-32 Aircraft which is overdue for some hours.
He has apprised me of the steps taken by the IAF to find the missing aircraft. I pray for the safety of all passengers on board.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 3, 2019
8. Defence Ministry spokesperson said all efforts were being made to locate the missing Air Force plane. The spokesperson said Rajnath Singh was keeping an eye on the situation.
9. IAF officials said the Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground is around 35km from the China border. The Mechuka ALG, where the aircraft was supposed to land, was re-activated last year. It was non-functional since 2013.
10. The AN-32 is a Russian origin aircraft and the IAF currently operates a sizeable number of it. It is a twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
