The Indian Navy, the IAF and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched a full-scale search and rescue mission immediately after the aircraft was reported missing, deploying several ships and aircraft, and the operations have been continuing round the clock since then.
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“The weather improved marginally, thereby aiding deployment of additional assets and aiding intensification of the search in a larger area”.
As search for the missing AN-32 IAF aircraft with 29 people on board is on, the family and friends of two Kerala defence officials who were on the plane are praying fervently and hoping to hear some good news.
Meanwhile, the massive search operations for the AN-32 aircraft involving multiple agencies continued for the third consecutive day.
A spokesman for the Indian Air Force ruled out the possibility of technical snags with the missing aircraft, even though a report in a local newspaper said the plane had suffered three technical problems in July alone.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had promised to use Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) that can see through the clouds to locate the missing plane. He was apprised of the hard conditions under which operations were being carried out during the last 24 hours.
“There is no sign of the plane as yet”, a senior defence official said.
“The sea state, however, continues to be rough, making the conditions challenging”, a statement by the MoD said.
He later left for Arakkonam from where he was flown to the area where the SAR was being undertaken jointly by the IAF, Navy and Coast Guard.
The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) had deployed two P8i Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft with advanced Electro-optics and radars, two Dornier aircraft and 13 ships with integral helicopters for the search operations.
The submarine is expected to track underwater signals from the plane’s beacon locator, which activates in the event of a crash. “We all are missing him”.
The aircraft went missing Friday en route from the southern city of Chennai to Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
The last known location of the aircraft was about 150 nautical miles east of Chennai.
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Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar undertaking an aerial survey.
