IAF An-32 aircraft missing: Aircraft launched for search ops return to air base due to low visibility

It has been more than 24 hours since the IAF An-32 aircraft went missing during a routine sortie from Chennai to Port Blair. The aircraft, carrying 29 personnel, including six crew members, went incommunicado around 8.45 am yesterday after taking off from the Air Force Station Tambaram.

Extensive search and rescue operations are underway, with the Defence Ministry scrambling planes and deploying naval ships to search for the aircraft in Bay of Bengal. Currently, one P8i aircraft, one Coast Guard aircraft and a C130 are scouring the area along with naval and coast guard ships.

The plane, which developed three technical snags in July alone, rapidly lost altitude from 23,000 feet after maneuvering left. The Russian-origin plane also had eight civilians who are family members of service personnel on board.

WATCH VIDEO: Indian Air Force’s An-32 Plane Goes Missing

Indian Air Force’s (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft releases chaff as it flies past the IAF Day Parade in New Delhi, India. (file photo/AP)

On Friday, the Navy has deployed two P8i Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, two Dornier aircraft and 12 ships with helicopters in the area to locate the missing plane. It has also diverted a submarine at sea for locating transmissions from the emergency locator beacon on board the aircraft.

The IAF, meanwhile, has employed one C130J and one AN-32 aircraft, while the Coast Guard has also deployed CGS Sagar and one Dornier aircraft to locate the missing plane.