“Two SUs and C-130Js will be carrying out night missions to locate the missing aircraft,” Guwahati-based Defence PRO, Lt Col P Khongsai said in a statement on Wednesday.
Itanagar
Search and rescue operation by helicopters to locate the missing Indian Air Force (IAF) AN 32 aircraft was called off on Wednesday due to low light and it will resume tomorrow morning, a Defence official said.
“Two SUs and C-130Js will be carrying out night missions to locate the missing aircraft,” Guwahati-based Defence PRO, Lt Col P Khongsai said in a statement on Wednesday.
As per Defence sources, search and rescue operation has been carried out in Siang district and the adjoining areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
“Search and rescue operation was halted for sometime in the morning but it was resumed after the weather improved. Nothing has been found yet ,”sources said.
The IAF aircraft carrying eight crew members and five other passengers went missing after it got airborne from Jorhat airbase in Assam at 1225 hrs on Monday.
The aircraft took off for Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in Arunachal Pradesh. Last communication of the aircraft with the ground agencies was established at 1300 hrs.
On Tuesday, IAF launched C-130, AN-32, Mi-17 and ALH (Indian Army) helicopters. The aircraft are equipped with advanced sensors. Indian Navy P-8 I aircraft also joined the search operations. CARTOSAT and RISAT satellites of ISRO are also taking images of the area.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Bamang Felix on Tuesday said that the state government have also extend full support and engaged the police force and district administration of five district adjoining the Siang, West Siang and Si Yomi district in the mission. Several teams of local administration and local people area also in the search of AN 32 IAF aircraft.
