The operation has been hit repeatedly due to difficult terrain in the region and poor weather conditions.Over four days after the Anton, AN-32, aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) lost contact with ground stations, it is yet to be traced as a massive search and rescue operation continues between Jorhat in Assam and Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh. With an intensified search, the IAF has deployed additional assets in the mission roping in local civic and police agencies.
The transport aircraft took off from Jorhat at 12.27 pm on Monday for the Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground. Its last contact with the ground control was at 1 pm. A total of 13 personnel were on board the aircraft. Both the Navy and the Army have joined the IAF in search operations along with the ISRO. The operation has been hit repeatedly due to difficult terrain in the region and poor weather conditions.
IAF has deployed four Mi-17 helicopters, three advanced light helicopters, of which two belonged to the Army, two Sukhoi-30 aircraft, one C-130 transporter aircraft and one Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) of the Army. Two Cheetah helicopters are likely to join the search operation on Friday.
Anton AN-32, an extensive used aircraft by IAF
Antonov An-32 is a tactical transport aircraft used by the Indian Air Force and have been in service since 1984. An-32 has been a trustworthy workhorse for the IAF for many years and is designed to be extensively used. The service ceiling of this turboprop aircraft is 31,000 ft, which means that it flies lower than most commercial jetliners (which have a service ceiling of 40,000 ft) and also flies slower with a cruising speed of 470 kmph. This gives lesser room for the An-32 to outrun bad weather or climb over it.
Family of late officer questions IAF’s ageing fleet
62-year-old Rajendra Barpatte, father of Flight Lieutenant Kunal Barpatte, says that he has still not received satisfactory answers to the many questions he had about the mishap and the ageing fleet of Russia-made planes, which were inducted in the Air Force in the 1980s. Flight Lieutenant Kunal, whose family is from Nigdi in Pimpri Chinchwad area, was a navigating officer with the 33 Squadron of the IAF, a transport squadron under the Southern Air Command, who was among the 29 people on board an AN-32 aircraft that went missing over the Bay of Bengal in July 2016. For the family members of Flight Lieutenant Kunal, the search for IAF’s AN-32 aircraft has once again raised some pertinent questions which have remained unanswered for three years.
Indian Navy, Indian Army, ISRO join search operation
A day after the AN-32 aircraft with 13 people onboard went missing and no wreckage could be traced, the Indian Navy, Indian Army, and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) joined the Indian Air Force to search for the missing plane. The Indian Navy is using the P8i aircraft, which has a very powerful Synthetic Aperture Radar, in the search and rescue operations. Indian Navy’s satellites like RISAT, and aircraft equipped with multiple sensors also joined in the operations. ISRO deployed two of its satellites – CARTOSAT and RISAT – to capture images of the area.
Group Captain Anupam Banerjee said, “ISRO satellites are also being used for photographing this area which will be analysed & used for further search operation. Next of kin of all the missing personnel have been informed about the search effort. We are in constant touch with them.It’s a little difficult terrain to carry out search op because there’s thick vegetation. It is a difficult op however we are using all our means, the electronic means, the electro-optical means. After analysing this we will do the visual lookout. Today P-8I aircraft of Navy also joined in search op. Army personnel are doing ground search&joined in with ALH Helicopter. Navy joined at P-8I. Local police&admn are helping Air Force to locate the aircraft.”
No Signs of Wreckage yet
IAF sources said that no signs of wreckage could be located so far in the search operations. Air Force had deployed a package of Sukho, Mi-17 helicopters, C-130, along with ground patrols so far to assist with the search and rescue operations in the north-east region. IAF PRO Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said, “Some ground reports were received on the possible location of a crash site. Helicopters were routed to the location. However, no wreckage has been sighted so far.”
'IAF committed to continued efforts to locate the aircraft'
IAF has further intensified & expanded the search for the missing An32. Fighter aircraft, C130, Helicopters, aircraft carrying specialised sensors, satellites & all possible civil, police & local administrative agencies have further expanded search based on human & sensor inputs. IAF has flown more than 100 hours in search operations. Weather continues to pose a challenge, however, IAF remains committed to continued efforts to locate the aircraft and it's brave air warriors.
Navy's Long Range Maritime Reconnaisance aircraft P8i deployed
Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft P8i airborne from INS Rajali, Arakonam, Tamil Nadu for the ongoing SAR for missing IAF_MCC
#AN32 reached in area 0800h. It will carry out EO/IR runs & Radar search.Welcome to The Indian Express LIVE Blog
Good Morning,
Welcome to The Indian Express LIVE blog as we continue tracking the Search and rescue operations of the missing IAF AN-32 aircraft with 13 onboard.